Christopher Bucklow’s ‘Guests’ at the Venice Biennale

At the Hotel Metropole in Venice, British photographer Christopher Bucklow presents Guests, a striking exhibition curated by James Putnam, on view from 26 March to 22 November as part of the Venice Biennale.

Bucklow, internationally acclaimed and known for pushing the boundaries of photography, combines elements of astronomy, chemistry, and alchemy to create images that feel both scientific and mystical. Drawing inspiration from 19th-century photographic experimentation, his work departs from conventional image-making to explore the relationship between light, process, and the human form.

First conceived in 1993, Guests features a growing “community” of luminous humanoid figures, now more than thirty, each derived from Bucklow’s dreams and inner visions. These figures are formed through an intricate process: thousands of tiny punctures are made into drawn silhouettes, allowing sunlight to pass through and imprint radiant, glowing bodies onto photographic film. The result is a series of incandescent forms that appear both abstract and deeply human, embodying what Bucklow describes as a kind of “fissioned personality.”

Rather than depicting recognisable faces or events, the works evoke an emotional and psychological presence. Their jewel-like colours and stained-glass luminosity create an atmosphere that feels suspended between reality and imagination, an “esoteric aura” that lingers around each image.

Bucklow’s work has been exhibited globally and is held in major collections including the National Portrait Gallery, Guggenheim Museum, Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Victoria and Albert Museum. His presentation in Venice offers a rare opportunity to encounter these radiant figures within the historic setting of the Metropole, where light, space, and imagination converge.

Guest, 2.11pm 9th December 1995
Unique photograph
40 x 30”
€ 17,000.00
By Christopher Bucklow

Guest, 2.17pm 25th July 1998
Unique photograph
40 x 30”
€ 17,000.00
By Christopher Bucklow

Guest, 5.14pm 11th November 1998
Unique photograph
40 x 30”
€ 17,000.00
By Christopher Bucklow

The Beauty of the World, 11.44am 24th July 2008
Unique photograph
16 x 16”
€ 4,500.00
By Christopher Bucklow

Magnetic Mirror, 4.12pm 20th October 2003
Unique photograph
40 x 30”
€ 17,000.00
By Christopher Bucklow

The Beauty of the World, 11.44am 24th July 2008
Unique photograph
16 x 16”
€ 4,500.00
By Christopher Bucklow