The exhibition trilogy The Architecture of Transformation, curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, shows artistic positions at the intersection between art and architecture. Each chapter is linked directly to the evolving history of the building, which was originally built as a camouflaged air raid shelter in the Second World War, then used as an internment camp during the post-war years and finally converted into a residential and office building.
The third and final part of the trilogy, entitled The Architecture of Transformation, relates to the conversion of the building into its current state and addresses architectural transformation in its social context. Six artists from the United States, Canada, Saudi Arabia, France, Belgium and Switzerland show diverse works in different media, some of which were specially commissioned for the unique architecture of the exhibition spaces.
The Palestinian-Saudi artist Dana Awartani, based in Dschidda, addresses in her practice the rapid social change in her home country and resulting tensions between tradition and modernity.
A site-specific intervention by Belgian architect and artist Olivier Goethals complements the architectural features of the exhibition space to enable new perspectives on what is seemingly familiar.
Using her unique combination of photography and painting, French-Danish artist Eva Nielsen questions architectural structures of suburbs and economically disadvantaged residential areas.
Canadian artist Jeremy Shaw, who lives and works in Berlin, examines in his work structures of altered states of consciousness and the human longing for transcendence.
A sound installation, specially commissioned for the exhibition, by Swiss media, installation and performance artist Hannah Weinberger uses acoustic interventions to complement existing gaps in the existing architecture. The American sculptor and installation artist Andrea Zittel sketches habitable sculptures to blur the boundaries between art and everyday living spaces.
A comprehensive archive wall, which is presented in the center of the exhibition, complements the artistic positions. It illustrates both the historical context of the original use of the building as a bunker during the Second World War as well as its function and significance in the post-war period and the conversion and transformation of the architecture into its current state.
The exhibition places the artistic positions shown in direct relation to the history and architecture of the unique exhibition spaces. It invites the visitor to reflect on the importance of architectural structures as traces of history and their changing meaning throughout the course of time.
The exhibition is on view until the 29th of May.
Information above is extracted from the press release.