El Alto

Peter Granser’s photographic series presents a selection of buildings in El Alto (Bolivia) of bolivian architect Freddy Mamani Silvestre. Mamani calls his architectural style “new andean architecture”. The colors and shapes are inspired by the indigenous Aymara culture and pre-Inka architecture which can be found in the UNESCO World Heritage Site Tiwanaku near the Titicaca lake. Since 2005 self-taught architect Mamani realised more than 60 projects in El Alto.

As Winston Hampel (AA School of Architecture, London) describes it in the essay that is accompanying the publication, Granser focuses completely on the buildings, “people appear nowhere”. Through the tight framing each house appears detached from any particular context, time or place, “what is left is pattern and composition”.

Peter Granser works in the field of photography since over 20 years. His artistic work is part of important international collections. His last publication with Edition Taube “J’ai perdu ma tête” was awarded with the “Most Beautiful German Books Award 2014”. Peter Granser (*1971, Austria) lives and works in Stuttgart, Germany.