I've always had an interest in architecture. It's not just about buildings; it's about humans, about life, about flow. Essential stuff. Often exhibitions on architecture display 2- and 3-D models of buildings and landscapes. Mostly computer-made, with an immense load of data and accompanied by an immense load of information. The narratives told about art and architecture in exhibition context often takes on an intellectual, abstract, even loftily character, telling us how to understand and interpret the aesthetic objects presented. I sound pessimistic, but it's only because I just visited the summer exhibition at Danish Architecture Center (DAC), curated by the author Tor Nørretranders, which was a contrasting experience. At The Heart of Stone there was room to take in things, to experience, to reflect and the approach was to open up the visitors body and mind. To provide a platform for relating to all the architecture that surrounds us in our everyday life.
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| Foto fra dac.dk af Kristian Ridder-Nielsen |
The Heart of the Stone investigates the very being of architecture by looking closely at the work of the Danish Studio Lundgaard & Tranberg. This studio is behind some of the most interesting new buildings in Copenhagen, like The Royal Playhouse, The Lighthouse, Tiegtenkollegiet and SEB Bank. In my opinion the works of Lundgaard & Tranberg are always marked by 'raumgefühl', integrated solutions and a love for natural materials. Furthermore they seem to have a concern for the social life and communities, which resonates nicely with Tor Nørretranders thoughts on architecture and society.
The exhibition presents brickwork, images, texts, videos, running water, mirrors, optical effects, computer models and poems, which will stimulate visitors' sense of touch, spatial awareness, sense of depth, perception of time and scientific curiosity. It's a great summer blend, communicated cleverly by Nørretranders. In his blog he sums up his curatorial concept: "It attempts to bring a new take on architecture - not seeing it as a display of aesthetic objects, but as the channeling of flows through life."
I was happy as I walked out of DAC and into the real exhibition.
See the exhibition at DAC until september 21, 2014.
Read Tor Nørretranders book Vær Nær (2013).
