×

Subscribe to our newsletter

Highlights From the Previous Week, Partnered Events and Haikus. View our Newsletter archive

A Closer Look At ‘BAUKUNST. Performance and Performativity’

In this second monograph exhibition, A+ Architecture and BOZAR highlight Belgian architecture firm BAUKUNST’s unique image-driven methodology and decade-long practice through models, mechanisms, photographs and various videos.

Scroll right to read more ›
Text by
All Exhibition Images Maxime Delvaux

Founded by Adrien Verschuere in 2008, BAUKUNST has taken part in a large number of interdisciplinary collaborations which place architecture at the crossroads between art and science. With a design method that is based on the assembly of elements and spaces, BAUKUNST focuses on a number of themes in their design process that usually starts with the collection of images and creation of collages – rather than an after-the-fact rendering. The Belgian architecture firm also prides itself on a conscious relationship with architectural history, which provides them with a repertoire of situations, shapes, typologies and conditions that are considered unlikely potentials for new interpretations.

Investing in its own architectural practice, as well as actively involved in research and education, BAUKUNST believes that architecture, combined with critical reflection, is able to and responsible for providing novel representations of our lived-in environments. A sort of continuation of its approach to still and/or animated images in their first exhibition in BOZAR back in 2009 — titled ‘3 Cities’ (which gave a critical account of the state of the cities of Liege, Bruges and Brussels) — their 2019 exhibition, ‘Performance and Performativity’, aims to depict the multiple ties and collaborative practices that support their varied architectural projects. Curated by founder Adrien Verschuere, as well as Roxane Le Grelle and Iwan Strauven — the exhibition presents a personal reflection of the firm’s methodology through models, mechanisms, photographs and various videos that illustrate their recent work and aims to immerse visitors in BAUKUNST’s unique employment of artistic, philosophical and technical references.

At the occasion of this exhibition, the first monographic publication featuring BAUKUNST’s works has also recently been published. Coproduced by BOZAR BOOKS, A+ Architecture in Belgium and Koenig Books, the publication offers an in-depth description of the work displayed in the exhibition and covers all of the firm’s work since its creation, and includes project photos, graphic documents and an interview conducted by art historian and curator Hans Ulrich Obrist.

Since 2019, A+ Architecture in Belgium and BOZAR have been co-producing a new series of exhibitions devoted to Belgian architecture firms, which have attracted international attention in recent years. ‘Performance and Performativity’ is the second exhibition in this series, and is on view at BOZAR/Centre for Fine Arts until January 5th, 2020.

https://www.bozar.be/en/activities/157863-baukunst

http://www.bau-kunst.eu/

Adrien Verschuere © Thomas Van den Driessche
Swiss Embassy, Addis Abeba, 2018 © ArtefactoryLab
La Fraineuse, Spa © Julien Hourcade
Hotel des Archives, Genève, Switzerland, 2018 © ArtefactoryLab + Maxime Delvaux
HEdS, Genève, Switzerland, 2018 © ArtefactoryLab
Arsenic, Variable Places, 2012 © ArtefactoryLab
Parc Rasquinet, Brussels, 2015 - 2017© Maxime Delvaux
Back

Articles you also might like

La Patinoire Royale Bach, a contemporary gallery founded by Valérie Bach nearly 10-years ago, opens its 2024 season with an important exhibition of early works by seminal California Light & Space Artist, Lita Albuquerque. The exhibition, installed in the nave of the large gallery space, is on view through April 13th.

Spazio Nobile presents Good Luck! New Experiments, a group show of nine designers, at the 7th edition of COLLECTIBLE, at the Vanderborght Building in Brussels between March 7- March 10, 2024.

La Verrière – Fondation d’entreprise Hermès, presents “Emi e dames messeur”, a solo exhibition of work by Belgian artist Koenraad Dedobbeleer, that includes a mix of previous and new works as well as art from his own personal collection. The exhibition is on view through April 27, 2024.

From Sunday, January 28th to Sunday, February 4th, 2024, the 69th edition of BRAFA will take place at the Brussels Expo. Featuring 132 galleries from over 14 countries, the 2024 edition of the leading art fair is planning to be one of its best yet.