“...And Other Such Stories” to Define the Curatorial Theme of Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019
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In a recent announcement, organizers of the third Chicago Architecture Biennial have declared that the architecture fest will forego a single theme this year, pushing the architecture profession to “think more meaningfully” about a host of contemporary is
“...And Other Such Stories” to Define the Curatorial Theme of Chicago Architecture Biennial 2019
In a recent announcement, organizers of the third Chicago Architecture Biennial have declared that the architecture fest will forego a single theme this year, pushing the architecture profession to “think more meaningfully” about a host of contemporary issues. Titled “ ...And Other Such Stories,” the theme for this year’s biennial looks beyond architecture into an exploration of the conditions that affect it, through an expansive, research-led, and global approach. The theme has been put together by Yesomi Umolu, Chicago-based curator and artistic director of the biennial; and her team of co-curators that include Sepake Angiama, whose work centers on education; and Paulo Tavares, a Brazil-based architect and academic. While the Biennial’s home city, Chicago, provides much inspiration for the theme, this year it moves beyond the revered architectural heritage of the city to uncover the conditions at play that shape the built environment. Visitors to the Biennial can expect multiple disciplines beyond architecture to be addressed, such as Visual arts, policymaking, education, and activism. Talking about the theme, Umolu said, “ Our approach to this edition of the Biennial has evolved through conversations with architects, spatial practitioners, and everyday people in Chicago and other global locations, including through partnerships fostered in our research initiatives in the cities of São Paulo, Johannesburg, and Vancouver.” The 2019 Biennial will be structured broadly around four curatorial frames: “No Land Beyond,” which will look into the relationship between the built environment, nature, ecology, and landscape; “Appearances and Erasures,” which addresses memories and histories associated with monuments and memorials; “Rights and Reclamations,” which explores architecture's relationship to advocacy and activism; and "Common Ground,” which captures the overall spirit of the biennial by focusing on architecture as a common ground across different cultures, societies, peoples, and communities. As described by Umolu, the “common ground” is to be achieved through collaborations with a range of groups outside the architecture industry such as social practitioners, spacial practitioners, leaders of social movements, activists, and teachers, as per Chicago Architecture Biennial. The Chicago Architecture Biennial was launched in 2015 to establish the city as an epicenter for architectural discourse. Consequently, the organizers of the last two editions focused on the architectural history of the city. On its third edition, the biennial wants to showcase architecture as a tool for addressing the issues in contemporary society. As stated by Umolu, “We don't have a singular manifesto; we're not trying to convince the world of a particular perspective. What we're trying to do is draw out multiple positions and perspectives, a range and diversity of experience, and how through being aware of that, there might be solutions or learning points that you can take forward.... Architecture can play a role by taking the lead and trying to push the profession to think more meaningfully about some of these questions.” Resonating Umolu’s words, Todd Palmer, Biennial Executive Director, added, “ We are thrilled that this year’s curatorial focus will open up the architectural conversation on key socio-political and environmental issues that shape our present reality, and introduce new voices and perspectives. Through the dialog they catalyze, we expect this Biennial to inform a collectively-imagined future.” With its main exhibition hub at the Chicago Cultural Center, the 2019 Chicago Architecture Biennial opens to press and professionals on September 17, 2019, and to the general public from September 19 through January 5, 2020. https://www.blouinartinfo.com/ Founder: Louise Blouin Read more
