By God, don’t walk by me, I am an architect.
I am trying to show you something. Look at it!
- Morris Lapidus
Never before there were so many distinctive and original voices and visions in architecture. Multiplicity of voices is the defining feature of architecture’s current moment. Architecture of distinction and originality is being produced all around us. Our built environment is growing ever more diverse and complex. Is architecture oversaturated with ideas? How many architectures do we need? How can we remain critical by being exposed to such a proliferation of voices? Do architects need common ground? Should architects’ voices be amplified? Should architecture be ego-driven? Is iconic and signature-style architecture still relevant?
The exhibition’s title, Something Other than a Narrative is an excerpt from my 2016 conversation with Peter Eisenman who said, “Text to me is the manipulation of words to produce something other than a narrative. I want to stop any narrative.” Removing any narrative opens up possibilities for myriad of meanings. The exhibition’s design is based on Eisenman’s key project, Berlin Memorial to The Murdered Jews of Europe. The exhibit is a platform for 16 voices – half local and half global – to be heard, juxtaposed, and interpreted. The architects’ intentions are presented through audio recordings, transcripts, quotes, singular words, and images. These voices must be disseminated urgently. Urgently because the current diversity seems to frustrate architects. They are losing interest in formal and material experimentation and instead focus predominantly on such tangible aspects of architecture as social engagement, problem-solving, economy of means, and sustainability. As architects are increasingly becoming concerned with how they fit in rather than how they stand out their voices tend to get more muted and undistinguishable.
Let’s reinvigorate architects’ voices, amplify, and reflect back their individual ways of making architecture. What is architecture? This question must be continuously addressed by architects and critics. Architecture must be constantly redefined. Not knowing something is the first step towards discovery. Architecture that’s not discovered or reinvented is not interesting to me.
- Vladimir Belogolovsky, Curator
Interviews include:
- Alberto Kalach, Mexico City, June 14, 2017
- Alvaro Siza,Porto, December 10, 2016,
- Anton Garcia Abril & Debora Mesa, Madrid, July 17, 2015
- Emilio Ambasz, Bologna, July 12, 2015
- Enrique Norten, New York City, August 19, 2015
- Gabriel de la Mora, Mexico City, June 12 and 13, 2017
- Jill Magid, New York City, June 20, 2017
- Mauricio Rocha & Gabriela Carrillo, Mexico City, June 14, 2017
- Michel Rojkind, Mexico City, June 15, 2017
- Peter Eisenman, New York City: February 18, 2016
- Ricardo Bofill, Barcelona, February 25, 2016
- Tatiana Bilbao, Mexico City, June 16, 2017
- Thom Mayne, New York City, May 5, 2016
- Victor Legorreta, Mexico City, June 15, 2017
- Will Alsop, London, October 22, 2010
- Wolf Prix, New York City, November 20, 2008
Title
Exhibition: Something Other Than a Narrative: Architects' Voices & VisionsType
ExhibitionWebsite
Organizers
Vladimir Belogolovsky, Curatorial ProjectFrom
August 16, 2017 12:00 PMUntil
September 14, 2017 05:00 PMVenue
Galería José Luis BenlliureAddress