The Canadian Centre for Architecture (CCA) in Montreal has debuted a new exhibition, “Being There: Photography in Arthur Erickson’s Early Travel Diaries,” showcasing the renowned Canadian architect’s photography, travel diaries, and sketches. Curated by David Covo, the exhibition runs until March 16, 2025.
Throughout his life, Erickson was a prolific traveler, documenting canonical architectural sites and cataloguing the emergence of classical architecture. The exhibition features materials from his travels to the Middle East, North Africa, Europe, Japan, China, Cambodia, and Bali, including a documented correspondence between Erickson and his mentor Gordon Weber.
Erickson’s attention to architectural detail during his travels informed his own work in British Columbia, incorporating vernacular forms from across the globe into his early residential designs. The exhibition pairs many of the photographs with site descriptions written by Erickson, offering a unique glimpse into his design process and philosophical insights.
The exhibition’s opening coincides with the premiere of a documentary about the architect, “Arthur Erickson: Beauty Between the Lines,” and the reopening of his renovated Museum of Anthropology at the University of British Columbia.
Image courtesy: archpapaer.com
