Informal Architectures

Through three panel discussions, followed by a presentation by artist Jimmie Durham, we explore artist-lead research in the built environment in contemporary consumer societies.

In this symposium acclaimed artists, curators and writers from Canada, the US and Europe explore relationships between architecture, public space and time. Through cultural theory and artists’ interpretations of space, Informal architectures will address issues relating to monumentality, ruin, nomadic culture and environment in the current political climate.

The symposium endeavours to examine how characterisations of space may be defined as variously social, philosophical, political, and poetic. Informal architectures explores the dissolution of boundaries (disciplinary, performative, artistic), and looks at how notions of contingency, nomadism, fiction, the hypothetical, and the historical inform our understanding of spatial culture. Informal architectures encompasses multiple reflections upon modernism and monumentality and that which is, intentionally or not, formless, lacking, imperfect, temporary, unbuilt, or weak. George Bataille’s conception of spatial destruction, and perspective on anti-architectural matter such as spittle, resonate in the gestures of contemporary artists and architects.

This symposium is preceded by a lecture by artist Dan Graham on February 15 at Tate Modern. Graham produces artworks and theoretical texts that investigate cultural ideologies and systems. His interests range from suburbia and public architecture to punk music and popular culture. Graham’s lecture is followed by a question-and-answer session, chaired by Anthony Kiendl, Director of Plug In ICA, Canada and Leverhulme Visiting Research Fellow at the School of Arts, Middlesex University.

In collaboration with Plug In ICA, Canada House, Department of Foreign Affairs Canada, The Banff Centre and Middlesex University
With support from the AHRC