With the exhibition "The Poetics of Boxes" Aedes presents the first monographic show in Europe of the work of Mathias Klotz from Santiago de Chile, currently one of Chile’s most successful international architects.
Klotz’s works are characterised by their structural clarity. The distinct volumes and lines of his buildings correspond with perfect conceptual rigour to the landscape. In the exhibition this cosmopolitan from the Pacific presents his approaches and working methods. Alongside his work as an architect for over thirty years, Mathias Klotz is also active as filmmaker and photographer. So in a certain way his buildings can be understood as constructed screenplays. They tell the stories of the inhabitants and the surroundings. Klotz's stylistic devices are framed views, light and shadow, as well as a reduced palette of materials consisting mostly of timber and exposed concrete. Views into and out of the buildings provide a strong connection with the setting. The relationship between inside and outside is a very central theme in Klotz’s oeuvre.
Speaking at the opening, on September 13, will be Pritzker Prize jury member, Dr. h.c. Kristin Feireiss, Cristóbal Molina Baeza, Commissioner National Council for Culture and the Arts, Miquel Adriá, Director Arquine, and Mathias Klotz.
More information and images after the break.
As the focus of the exhibition, Mathias Klotz has chosen monochrome photography to highlight the relationship between building and context. Delicate pencil drawings show the design process and the play of volumes in space. Minimalist wooden models round off the exhibition. Additionally, there will be films and colour photographs on view.
Klotz has realised buildings at a range of scales – from single-family houses to commercial buildings, right through to a library. The exhibition presents a selection of 25 projects. This includes his first house, the Klotz House, completed in 1991 for his mother, the Ponce House from 2003, as well as buildings from the last seven years: the Raúl House (2007), Eleven Women House (2007), Hunter Douglas Complex (2007), Studio House (2009), Nicanor Parra Library (2012), Valtocado House (2012), Soda House Building (2013), Vitacura 3565 Building (2013), O House/H House (2013), as well as many more.
The newly released monograph ’30 years in architecture – Mathias Klotz’, published by Arquine will be presented at the opening.