Is architecture dying? This city exhibition focuses on just that
Through evocative art works, poetry and prose, an ongoing art exhibition at the Jor Bagh metro station in the Capital decodes and amplifies actions that slowly tear and restructure the fabric of our cities. Titled Death of Architecture, it presents evidence that will allow discussions about our present, and yet at the same time, is embedded with clues and signs that can help effect meaningful dialogues about the future.
The exhibition has been assembled by 13 of India’s thinking and concerned design practitioners and highlights how architecture impacts our sense of being.
Suparna Bhalla, one of the participating architects, calls it a “discourse”, and not a “descriptive” — one that will allow cities and design communities to structure conversations that are pertinent to their immediate realm and concerns.
“We are looking at the present reality... the dying profession of architecture... [Dying because] we might be coming up with new buildings, new designs... but in 70 years, we still don’t have world-class architecture,” says Bhalla. The aim is to call a spade a spade, adds the architect, who wants to highlight what we have vis-a-vis how it should be.
Art curator Alka Pandey, who also collaborated on this project, says, “The idea is to focus on sustainability — of the architecture and how it impacts the environment, as most builders don’t value that.”
IANS AND HTC