Time to catch up with some of the recent activities. Today I got the images of the Synthetic Ecologies, the panel discussion Sandra and myself organized in the MAK-Center LA, the Schindler House. Once again I have to thank the entire staff of the Schindler House in helping to stage this panel discussion within their precious premises.
I just will mention briefly the issues discussed with the panel. Panelists included Hernan Diaz Alonso (
Xefirotarch), Jason Payne (
Gnuform), Marcelyn Gow (
SERVO),
Benjamin Bratton and
Neil Leach. Read
here to peek into their bios. After a Brief introduction into the issue of Synthetic Ecologies the panel grabbed the question on a Definition of the terminology and the implication in the architectural discourse. Among other issues discussed was the way architects approach and embrace scientific results in order to create architectonic entities. In recent years there has been a flow of scientists, mathematicians and philosophers pouring into the architecture schools in order to teach on architectonic issues. On the other hand no architect goes and teaches in a bioscience school, or chairs a mathematic institute.
As Hernan Diaz Alonso stated, wether this means that architects are so dumb, or that architects create an environment that scientists consider interesting or entertaining. The discussion went on with issues about the critique raised by scientists vs architects, stating that architects are basically diletants in everything and lack expertise in order to participate within high end scientific discourse. On the other hand, this may be the architects sharpest weapon, as lacking expertise opens sometimes your horizon to possibilities overseen by the narrow vision of the scientific lab.
Among other issues discussed was the notion of beauty today, the historic dimension to it, and the shift of this notion within the use of esthetic expressions. One of my favorite issues, which unfortunatly we had to keep short in order to not overextend the timeframe of this discussion. Maybe this is going to be the issue of the next discussion Sandra and I put together?
pix: Courtesy of the MAK Center
Photographs by Tom Queally
