Factory International

HELENE BINET: THE POETICS OF CONSTRUCTION

Exhibition guide

Over four years and eight visits to the construction site of Aviva Studios, internationally acclaimed photographer Hélène Binet captured the building rise from the ground.

This free exhibition brings this work together for the first time. Shot on film, each image reveals a moment of the construction captured in time – exposing the different processes and materials that were key to making the building. Together, this astonishing series of large colour and black and white imagery tells the story of Aviva Studios and offers a poetic interpretation of a working site.

Melding the poetic and industrial, The Poetics of Construction invites you to explore the unseen elements that result in a finished work.

Hélène Binet: The Poetics of Construction runs from 7 May to 9 June 2024.

Audio Description

Warehouse Staircase

Lower Hall Foyer

  • Hélène Binet wearing a hard hat and adjusting a camera

    Hélène Binet at Aviva Studios home of Factory International May 2023 credit Mark Waugh.

    Biography

    Hélène Binet is an internationally acclaimed Swiss/French photographer based in London. She creates large-format photography and works exclusively with film. Her work has been exhibited around the world –including at PSA, Shanghai. In 2019, she was awarded the Ada Louise Huxtable Prize for her exceptional contribution in the field of architecture. In 2021/22, she became the first woman photographer to present a major solo exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts.

Warehouse staircase

  • Black and white photograph of the Aviva Studios theatre roof truss being built

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    1.

    Theatre roof truss connecting into the Warehouse west wall. Today this is part of the structure connecting the Hall and the Warehouse.

    February 2020.

  • black and white photograph of a circular structure during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    2.

    A temporary cable route cast within a pre-cast façade panel.

    April 2021.

  • The warehouse structural steel frame under construction during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    3.

    The Warehouse structural steel frame under construction. Today this is within the structure of the North Warehouse wall over the city entrance to Aviva Studios.

    February 2020.

Lower Hall Foyer

  • The roof of the theatre next to the Warehouse wall during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    1.

    Theatre roof adjoining the Warehouse wall. Today this can be seen on the outside of Aviva Studios where the Hall connects to the Warehouse.

    September 2022.

  • Red structural beam during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    2.

    'Mega pig' structural connection. Today this is part of the structure within the orange welcome desk in the Social.

    May 2023.

  • black and white photograph of the outside of the Warehouse and Theatre during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    3.

    The Warehouse and Theatre South elevation. Today this can be seen on the outside of Aviva Studios from underneath the bridge on Water Street.

    May 2023.

  • black and white photographs of a concrete wall during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    4.

    South elevation pre-cast concrete panels. Today this can be seen on the outside of the Warehouse from the south end of Aviva Studios.

    October 2021.

  • black and white photograph of a skeleton wall in the Warehouse during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    5.

    Multi-wall movable partition skeleton framework. Today this is within the structure of the walls that can divide the North and South Warehouse.

    September 2022.

  • A large circular window in Aviva Studios during the build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    6.

    The Green Room window. Today this is a visual connection between the Warehouse and the Green Room.

    April 2021.

  • Black and white photograph of the skeleton of Aviva Studios, with cranes and Manchester's skyline

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    7.

    View of the proscenium arch from the North East towers through the Warehouse and into the Hall. Today this is within the structure of the proscenium arch in the Hall.

    February 2020.

  • black and white photograph of a steel structure during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    8.

    Level 5 rib deck slab with steel reinforcement prepped for pouring concrete. Today this is the Factory International office.

    November 2019.

  • Structural steelwork connections during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    9.

    Structural steelwork splice connections.

    July 2020.

  • Close-up photograph of a pre-cast façade panel during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    10.

    Temporary Cable Route cast within a pre-cast façade panel.

    September 2022.

  • Steel reinforcement bundles during the Aviva Studios build

    Hélène Binet. Aviva Studios, Manchester, UK. Commissioned by Factory International.

    11.

    Steel reinforcement bundles.

    April 2021.

Explore: The Story of Aviva Studios

The Poetics of Construction was one of four projects commissioned during the build of Aviva Studios – along with podcast Making the Factory, Ming de Nasty's Under Construction and photography by Pawel Paniczko.
Explore the projects here →
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