Traditional museum gallery spaces are redefined in new exhibition
An exhibition that examines emerging trends in museum design through six new art sites — and that share the common thread of moving beyond the traditional “white cube” gallery space — will open at the Yale School of Architecture in February.
“White Cube, Green Maze: New Art Landscapes” features newly commissioned photographs of these sites by Iwan Baan, who is considered to be one of today’s most influential architectural photographers. Also included in the exhibition are architects’ models, plans, and sketches; historical photographs; and maquettes and sketches by key installation artists.
The architects sought to “juxtapose the experience of culture, art, architecture, and landscape,” note the organizers, adding, “each site presents a unique expression of the ambitions and collaborations of patrons, architects, landscape artists, and curators.”
The six sites or institutions surveyed in “White Cube, Green Maze: New Art Landscapes” represent a departure from the traditional museum gallery space, “as well as from expectations of how a gallery should be experienced,” say the organizers. They are:
- Raketenstation Insel Hombroich, near Neuss, Germany, including built projects by Erwin Heerich, Tadao Ando, Álvaro Siza Vieira, and Raimund Abraham.
- Benesse Art Site, Naoshima, Japan, including built projects by Ando, Hiroshi Sambuichi, Kazuyo Sejima, and Ryue Nishizawa.
- Inhotim, near Belo Horizonte, Brazil, inspired by the landscapes of Roberto Burle Marx and including built projects by Arquitetos Associados, Rodrigo Cerviño Lopez, and Rizoma Arquitetura.
- Jardín Botánico, Culiacán, Mexico, with architectural interventions by Tatiana Bilbao and landscape design by TOA–Taller de Operaciones Ambientales.
- Grand Traiano Art Complex, Grottaferrata, Italy, with projects in design development by Johnston Marklee and by HHF architects, and with landscape design by Topotek1.
- Olympic Sculpture Park, Seattle, USA, designed by Weiss/Manfredi.
The exhibition was organized by the Heinz Architectural Center at Carnegie Museum of Art, Pittsburgh, under the direction of Raymund Ryan, who is the center’s curator of architecture. It has been adapted for the Yale School of Architecture Gallery by Brian Butterfield, director of exhibitions at the school.
“White Cube, Green Maze: New Art Landscapes” is on view Feb. 14-May 4 at the School of Architecture Gallery, located on the second floor of Paul Rudoph Hall, 180 York St. It is open to the public Monday-Friday, 9 a.m.-5 p.m.; and Saturday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Visit the website for more information.
