‘The Angle’ is the first of a series of five in the Turning Torso Art Photography Series by photographer Brian Andersen.
Turning Torso is the world famous landmark of Malmö, the third largest city in Sweden. The neo-futurist residential skyscraper was built in 2005, reaching a height of 190 m (620 ft) with 54 stories and 147 apartments. It is a solid, immobile building constructed in nine segments of five-story pentagons that twist relative to each other as it rises; the topmost segment is twisted 90 degrees clockwise from the ground floor. Each floor consists of an irregular pentagonal shape rotating around the vertical core, which is supported by an exterior steel framework.
Designed by Spanish architect, structural engineer, sculptor and painter Santiago Calatrava, the building is based on a sculpture by Calatrava, called Twisting Torso, a white marble piece based on the form of a twisting human being. Turning Torso won the 2005 Gold Emporis Skyscraper Award; and in 2015, the 10 Year Award from the Council on Tall Buildings and Urban Habitat. It was the tallest building in the Nordic region until September 2022, when it was surpassed by Karlatornet in Gothenburg.
I live right by the beach in Malmö and rarely a day goes by without this famous structure entering my eyesight. I must have taken a hundred pictures of it and seen another thousand pictures taken by others. In September 2021, I set out to make an artistic and unique photo of the Turning Torso. But how do you go about that with something so extensively captured by others?
Usually, the Turning Torso is photographed from afar, showing the entire building and, not to mention, the surrounding densely populated area of Västra Hamnen. This will emphasize its height but – given the scale of the surrounding buldings – typically at the expense of composition since there will be very little in the frame besides the slim tower and perhaps a few clouds. I wanted to get closer and to focus on other properties than the obvious property of height:
The first image, ‘The Angle‘, examines the lines and curves of the torso and their implications on how the building interacts with light and shadow. How your viewing angle and the time of day determine what is visible and what is hidden. Because of the twisted form, the relationship between light and shadow is not absolute. Rather than separated, light and shadow are intertwined – a natural gradient within an unnatural structure.
The Turning Torso Series is available as exclusive fine art prints. If you are looking for a less expensive option, an art poster version with a feature title is also available. Read more about the two options below.
Fine art prints are Giclée printed on Hahnemühle Pearl fine art paper by the renowned London-based photo-lab ‘ThePrintSpace’.
The semi-gloss Hahnemühle Pearl is perfect for bringing life and a subtle reflection to the photo, and it is the obvious choice to go with architecture photography. Hahnemühle Pearl has a delicately textured surface and a smooth silky feel. Once printed, the paper impresses with outstanding reproduction of colour, depth, detail, deep blacks and striking contrasts that will last for 80 years. Each fine art print can be purchased in a variety of sizes and is printed and shipped by ThePrintSpace. Frame is not included.
Art posters are printed on museum grade paper with pigment ink, ensuring bright and intense colours for many years to come. Each art poster can be purchased in a variety of sizes and is printed and shipped by trusted EU-based print shops in Germany and the Czech Republic. Frame is not included.
