during summer 2015, the centrumeiland of ijburg in amsterdam hosts ‘urban campsite‘, a public exhibition and art-sleep experience made up out of fourteen innovative and creative habitats. a diverse group of designers, architects and artists have been invited to build mobile objects that function as bedrooms, ready for guest stay by local residents and tourists alike. bookable on airbnb, 85 Euros … [Read more...]
Sinkholes – Real and Illustrated – A sculpture by Heide Fasnacht
What happens when an artist uses a phenomena that is just vaguely known or not really understood by the public. For me and others, a sinkhole exists as a unclear image in my mind as a big hole that houses can fall into. Why it happens - I don't know. Why it happens in Florida (where I live) seems tied to "goofy Florida" or just another piece of human stupidity in the sunshine state. I blame … [Read more...]
Dallas Park Pavilions: CooperJoseph outshines Snohetta
In 2003, the City of Dallas passed a bond to renovate its parks. The bond included generous budgets for new picnic pavilions as architectural features. After a series of pavilions from regional firms, Dallas hired CooperJoseph and Snohetta. If this was a football game, the final score would be CooperJoseph, 45 and Snohetta, 10. A few years ago, I heard Ai WeiWei describe his frustration with … [Read more...]
Funny Pavilions in Shanghai
A certain ugliness of architectural work has emerged in China. Ugliness is normally made by long-term neglect or the original laziness by the designer. But many architects of all nationalities in working in China seem to be working on a style based on a quasi-organic "flow" and plastic injection toy manufacturing. Perhaps I am just out-of-date. Glenn Weiss "Living in urban surroundings … [Read more...]
Does Parody Strengthen the Original Work: Carl Andre vs Jordan McKenzie
When the silly artist makes childish fun of a great artist, does it strengthen the memories and thoughts regarding the great artist? In summer 2013, Jordan McKenzie’s performance Carl An(t)dre introduced 20 young people dressed as ants, accompanied by a marching band, promenading through Yorkshire Sculpture Park’s historic landscape creating structures inspired by Carl Andre’s infamous brick … [Read more...]