round corners
curating

Bild: 'Extension series' von Pablo Valbuena
 Download der Einleitung (PDF) in Englisch (58.8 KB)
Fluid Architectures
30 May - 16 August 09 at Netherlands Media Art Institute
Opening: 29 May 09

Link zur Website des Ausstellung

Videodokumentation der Ausstellung

Video von Antonio Glessi über die Produktion von Marnix de Nijs Exploded Views, unter meiner Mitwirkung

In the movie Metropolis from 1926, director Fritz Lang created the vision of a futuristic 21st century mega-city. Now that we have crossed the threshold of the this century our reality makes that vision seem strangely old-fashioned as new sets of factors unconsidered by Lang move to shape the future of our urban spaces. It is now ubiquitous computer networks, information delivery in real time and new display technologies which are the key elements transforming the face of our urban living spaces. Through them a space is taking shape whose manifestations merge the virtual and the physical.

Essayist Florian Rötzer talks in this context of a “digital urbanism” whose salient features are „dispersal, decentralisation, valorisation of interiority, globalisation, individuality and mobility“.
These factors shape a networked society and a "space of flows” which generate new dimensions for imagination and action no longer concurrent with the old geographies and topographies.

The exhibition Fluid Architecture gathers spaces of flow and immateriality created by artists in response to these contemporary notions of space. These fictional spaces made of light, moving image, and other media extend the idea of physical architecture to the construction of dynamic and seemingly infinite spaces enabling a sensory experience. The works rethink the classic standards of spatial construction and topography. Rather they introduce the new concept of performative architecture and thus propose an imaginary urban landscape for the 21st century.
For Fluid Architectures new site-specific works will be created by Walter Langelaar, Jan Robert Leegte and Pablo Valbuena.
The Fluid Architectures programme comprises a gallery exhibition, lectures and workshops.

Artists and works:
Annja Krautgasser (AT): Dashed II, media installation, 2005

Walter Langelaar (NL): paralevel | OA_NIMK2, modified videogame software, projection, 2009 (commission)

Jan Robert Leegte (NL): Ornament (Amsterdam), computer projection, 2009 (commission)

Dirk Lüsebrink/Joachim Sauter (DE): Invisible Shapes of Things Past - Shanghai, film-based sculptures and prints2D and 3D print, video, 1996/2006

Mader Stublic Wiermann (DE): folded space and twists and turns, documentations of video installation, 2008

Michael Najjar (DE): the invisible city, video, loop, 2004

Mark Napier (US): Smoke, custom software, computer, projection, and Cyclops Birth I + IV, inkjet on paper, 2007

Marnix de Nijs (NL): Exploded Views – Remapping Firenze, multi media installation, 2008 (produced within NIMk’s artist in residence programme)

Stanza (UK): Urban Generation, net art, software, real time city experience, 2005

Pablo Valbuena (ES): Extension series, architecture and projection, 2009 (commission)

Curator: Susanne Jaschko

Review in Dutch here


Frame programme:
May 29, 2009
18.30 h Introduction into Fluid Architectures by Susanne Jaschko
19 h Lecture 'Digital urbanism - historical and and future utopias of the megacity' by exhibiting artist Michael Najjar
20 h Opening reception


June 10
19 h Lecture by exhibiting artist Jan Robert Leegte (in Dutch)

June 13
11 – 19 h Workshop by exhibiting artist Walter Langelaar (in Dutch)

Image below: Mark Napier, still from 'Smoke', 2007