Talk: Building Blocks: Curating Architecture

Despite the complexity and difficult curatorial challenge in exhibiting architecture as a medium, a number of such exhibitions have been held in a variety of settings. Often involving installations, sketches, photos and models, we are able to gain an insight into the minds, worlds and inspirations of architects and the environments they create, but what can be truly understood about architecture through such exhibitions?

Contemplating this question, the Japan Foundation has invited Kayoko Ota, a curator and editor specialising in architecture, to discuss the purpose of architecture exhibitions and how this format can help foster our understanding. Having been the commissioner for this year’s Japan Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale and with long and established career overseas, Ota will draw on her global experience to explore various issues involved in curating architecture exhibitions both on a practical and theoretical level, while looking into what aspects in Japanese architecture have been and can be examined keeping its history, characteristics and current state in mind.

Following Kayoko Ota’s presentation, she will be joined for a discussion by Catherine Ince, Curator at Barbican Art Gallery.