CHENNAI : The ‘Death of Architecture’ exhibition, hosted by the Chennai Architecture Foundation and Anna University School of Architecture and Planning, was held at Anna University today. The two-day exhibition featured 13 presentations from architects from across the country on the theme, ‘Death of Architecture Circa 2000’, which spoke on the current issues within the industry, such as the rise of the word ‘local’, the impact of bye-laws on architectural creativity, and the role of the architect towards society.
A panel discussion with journalist Geetha Doctor, journalist and author, Mathangi Krishnamoorthy, assistant professor of Anthropology, Department of Humanities and Social Sciences, IIT-M, V S Sambandan, journalist, and Parvathi Nayar, visual artist, was held to give an outsiders perspective on the exhibition and profession.
Commenting that the exhibition conveyed a sense of nostalgia, Doctor said, “Ideas don’t die, they change. As long as there are people who bring about the change, architecture as a profession will not die. We no longer speak of beauty of grace, we speak of sophistication when it comes to architecture. But we also look back to the times of the Cholas and try to replicate it.”
This sentiment was backed by Krishnamoorthy, who remarked that the exhibit walked the line between melancholy and nostalgia.“The death of the author and the artists, in a sense, gives a fertile ground for growth. We are constantly having to redefine our art and the nature of art. These transitional phases are just as important,” said Nayar.