Biennale Review

'The first decade of the 21st century is ending in a succession of radical changes. In this context of rapid evolution, can architecture be the mouthpiece for new values and modern lifestyles? The 2010 Biennale is the opportunity to test architecture's numerous possibilities and to account for its plurality of approaches. Every one of its orientations relates to a different way of living.'

Director Kazuyo Sejima's statement - by the way the first woman to direct the Architecture Biennale - resulted in the less pretentious 12th International Architecture Exhibition in the absence of 'Lynnadids'.
In the previous editions of the exhibition the vast and beautiful spaces of the Corderie dell'Arsenale used to act as a mere background for sculptures of 'Star-Architects'. This year the installations refer directly to their sourrounding and create a series of diverse and interesting spaces. Probably the most beautiful and definitely the most poetic of these spaces is Matthias Schuler's (Transsolar) and Tetsuo Kundo's Cloudscape.
An artificial cloud hanging between the columns which could be gradually experienced through a lightweight spiral ramp. You enter the cloud from cool and dry climate underneath until the cloud fully embraces you. When reaching the top the climate gets warm and dry and sight becomes clear. The cloud is generated through different pressures of air.::image source

Canadian artist Janet Cardiff's sound installation 'The Forty Part Motet' is intangible. In the early modern hall under the wooden pitched-roof a choral of Thomas Tallis (1514-1585) hangs in the air. 8 x 5 speakers - arranged in an ellipse - distribute Tallis' 'Spem in alium'. Forty vocal scores expand the space and create a touching experience of the space.
Both installations deal strongly with the experience of space and its physiological and psychological impact on the human body.

The second main exhibition at the Palazzo del Esposizioni as well showed a heterogeneous overview of contemporary architecture production. Next to known offices from Japan like Atelier Bow Wow, Sejima's SANAA and Toyo Ito Biennale proved Aranda/Lasch as well as many young practices showed their conceptual approaches - few of them really outstanding but as a whole a highly informative cross-section.
Most intriguing was OMA's mini exhibition on Preservation. With the theme of CRONOCAOS, ::OMA/AMO, 'Preservation', exhibition view

OMA explores the wrenching simultaneity of preservation and destruction, which is destroying any sense of a linear evolution of time - an intelligent and critical debate on preservation. Additionally their new project for Venice's Palazzo Tedeschi which is to be converted to a shopping mall/cultural center was shown to the public for the first time.

Many of the pavillons of the participating nations were dealing with the theme 'People meet in Architecture'. Outstanding: the Netherlands, the winner of the Golden Lion Bahrain, Japan on the 50th anniversary of Metabolism, Canada, Croatia with their floating Pavillon.

:: The Netherlands on vacant spaces


:: Canadian Architect philip beesley's installation 'hylozoic ground'


:: Croatian floating pavillon, source

In summary it can be said that it is one of the most interesting yet heterogeneous architecture Biennales. An overview of alternative contemporary architecture without laying claim to completeness.

::all images by synchronictiy unless otherwise indicated

Off For Biennale di Venezia

::'balancing act' by ensamble studio at the arsenal building in venice, italy
image courtesy of ensamble studio

Synchronicity is heading towards Venice for the opening of the 12th International Architecture Exhibition Biennale di Venezia. I am very curious about what director Kazuyo Sejima will come up with. People meet in architecture is this year's theme and my guess is that the exhibitions will be quite different from the last architecture Biennale curated by Aaron Betsky which was somewhat dissapointing.
The Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement has been awarded to the Dutch architect Rem Koolhaas/ OMA. OMA will also be presenting an exhibition entitled 'preservation', which looks at our sense of duty towards history and aims to redefine the under-explored theme beyond architecture's disciplinary boundaries. Synchronicity will report soon about the exhibitions via comments and images. Stay tuned.

The new header image is a picture of South African artist Moshekwa Langa's installation Temporal Distance (With Criminal Intent). You Will Find Us in the Best Places. A city made of twines and bottles. The picture was taken at the 2009 International Art Exhibition Biennale di Venezia (image by synchronicity).

In the archives:

BIENNALE DI VENEZIA - ARSENALE

BIENNALE DI VENEZIA - ARSENALE

An Te Liu::Cloud:: Air Purifier installation :: image synchronicity

As expected, la Biennale di Venezia was a big show off of big names - at least at the main exhibition at Arsenale. Zaha, Frank, Hani, Greg... with few things which were new. While Greg Lynn's recycled toy furniture was quite interesting comprehending a good sense of humor, I was quite disappointed by Diller + Scofidio's installation - a ride through venice with a gondola filmed from rear and front. We know that already way back in the sixties from Valie Export.

Greg Lynn Form ::image by disturbnet
Also Zaha's and Patrick Schumacher's mobile Lotus home was a bit annoying, especially when you listened to Patrick Schumacher's Parametric manifesto where he talks about Parametrisim beeing the real new style after Modernism - Post-Modernism, Deconstructivism only where transitory styles. But the problem with the Lotus installation is, that it only is able to exist in a Modernist building, a white box or as well the beautiful Arsenale pavillion. But how would it look like in a curvy Zaha building? So what about this new style being so dependend on the old one?

Zaha Hadid Architects::Lotus ::image by disturbnet
UN Studio's 'The changing room' was at least more critical in the description.

UnStudio :: Image synchronicity

Philippe Rahm showed again one of his Architecture and Meteorology installions, which I always like a lot although it did not work the time I was there.

Philippe Rahm (whith MVRDV's Flying cars City in the back) :: Image synchronicity
A fresh cheer up on these exhaustive days was S1NGLETOWN by Droog Design focusing on the world of contemporary singles

Droog design :: image synchronicity

I will post an entry from the Biennale dealing with issues of sustainability and landscape soon. So stay tuned..

SYNCHRONICITY@BIENNALE DI VENEZIA

reflections on 'archtitecture beyond building' soon on this platform.