Irish Photographer Daniel Holfeld On Inspiration In Geneva with The Gloss

Geneva has a reputation for luxury, diplomacy and wealth: it was my response to this identity that ultimately shaped my new body of work. Initially, I was captivated by the grandeur of its financial institutions and NGO headquarters, but from an outsider’s perspective their bombastic architecture soon revealed itself as little more than status symbols. I became acutely aware that I didn’t want to create images that felt like polished advertisements; instead, I sought a more critical engagement with my surroundings.

INFINITE HORIZONS, 2025

Archival UV cured print on perforated vinyl over black acrylic, 200x130cm

Edition of 3

Shifting my focus, I turned my lens toward the everyday architecture accessible to all: post offices, bridges, train stations. This exploration led me to urban staircases, which became a powerful metaphor for hierarchy and social mobility. Through this perspective, these unassuming structures reflect the broader dynamics of urban life, embodying a universal human pursuit: the constant movement forward. I found inspiration in Geneva’s raw, utilitarian architecture: practical, no-frills, and built to last. Here, function always comes first. The city’s buildings are smartly designed structures that reflect Swiss pragmatism. In my images, you will see a lot of concrete and steel, materials used for their strength and durability.

One material that really stood out to me was micro-perforated contra-vision vinyl. It’s tough, weather-resistant, and built for endurance … kind of like life itself. The tiny, repetitive perforations mirror the daily grind, the monotony of routine, and that feeling of being just another piece in a much bigger system. There’s something strangely poetic about it: resilient, flexible, yet always under pressure.

All of my work is inspired by what Mexican architect Luis Barragán called “emotional architecture” – that it should speak to our hearts. He often used simple yet powerful elements like light, colour, and texture to create environments that felt personal and intimate. This ideology gave me license to unite my lived experiences with the built environment and to use photography as a means to express this.

I love this idea of transformation; amplifying the presence of something we walk all over into something monumental. To me, it’s an act of defiance to reclaim space otherwise overlooked. This is also the first time I experimented with printing techniques. While I love traditional sublime photo prints, for the show the UV-cured perforated vinyl channelled the inner journey I feel I have been for the last two decades of my creative career.

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Need to know: “Levels” by Daniel Holfeld is on at RHA Gallery, Dublin 2 until March 23. www.rhagallery.ie @danielholfeld