0.10 and Victory over the sun

As the culmination of a year celebrating Dutch–Russian relations in the Netherlands The Stedelijk Museum Amsterdam organized the largest collection of Malevich’s work outside of Russia. The exhibition shows Malevich’s way to his 'own' Supermatism reinforcing our impression the works of his contemporaries in the Russian avant-garde.

Architecture art reflexion

I’ve been lucky to visit the Hong Kong museum of contemporary art. It contains works of artists from all around the world, but of course a great part of exhibits are from China and Hong Kong artists. And I was surprised what a considerable influence the local architecture and urban environment exert on art here. It is partly determined unique and tough circumstances which local people face in China and in Hong Kong.

The city is extremely busy and very expensive. The density of housing unbelievable, though the living space is still in short supplies. The price gets to $200 000 for 1 sq meter in some areas, and mostly people have very tiny space and live repaying mortgage.

Moscow-City. Look from the inside.

Dear All, I would like to tell you few words about the most pathetic place in Moscow, namely, the Moscow International Business Centre, located  on Presnenskaya Naberezhnaya street. It is also called the Moscow-City Centre and represented by a number of towers, multifunctional trade centre and some other objects. MMBC is a project of Moscow Government, aimed on creating new centre of Moscow. 

In the Heart

I decided to look at the exhibition place that is claimed to be “commercially most successful”[1]. “Triumph” gallery was once opened with Damien Hirst work for private view and amongst others exhibited such famous artists like Chapman brothers, Tim Noble & Sue Webster, AES+F, Vinogradov & Dubosarsky etc. My aim was to analyze interior created in a historical place next to the Red Square and how do they deal with stands for objects showcased. Besides, I had a hope that current exhibition would be interesting as the artists are called “Recycle” which is the topic I am constantly concerned about.

This is what I saw:

CITIES OF THE FUTURE

As long as the urban population increases, the pollution and the consumption of resources are gradually rising up too. Although, we have the necessary technology in our hands to benefit from free of charge resources such as sun, wind and water, the balance of the ecology is lost with overpopulated cities.  Resources are usually not as efficiently as used or adapted into architectural projects.

I would like to introduce you Vincent Callebaut, a Belgian Architect who thinks a lot on ecological architecture projects. His “Hydrogenase” project is one of the good examples to show how far it is possible to develop an ecological space. Basically, the project proposes millions of seaweeds producing hydrogen in the middle of the sea on an island. As crazy as it sounds, we need natural sources more than ever; and I think it is worth to listen to. The project consists a vertical zeppelin which produces 100% of its own energy, can be used as a transport and accommodation at the same time. The zeppelin has hotels, laboratories, social areas and gets its electricity and hydrogen from seaweed farms, which can be build in different areas on the ocean.

The Garage Centre of Contemporary Art will have a branch in St Petersburg

New vast project will be sited on St Petersburg’s New Holland island by the company Millhouse Capital UK Ltd the part of business empire of Roman Abramovich. He will spend £256m in renovation and construction works according to investment contract. Roman Abramovich intends to build a multi-purpose complex on New Holland by 2017. It will cover 123,000 square yards, including the island’s five restored federal architectural monuments (65,000 square yards), with construction of an additional area of almost 18,000 square yards to the adjoining buildings.

Museums of Modern Art as highly valuable architecture

Visiting Nice, France this holidays, I attended The Modern and Contemporary Art Museum of Nice. The permanent collection is rich, it has its own spirit and it could attractive for artists, designers, and ordinary tourists. Temporary collections also present amazing artists and their inspiring works as usual. For example, Klein,Byars,Kapoor or Matisse exhibitions, the ones, I had a chance to visit. But the thing, that attracts me more is the outlook of the building itself, its smart design of exhibition rooms.

Young Blood

     Bright, funny and very  proceleusmatic exhibition named "Start Avangard" is taking place in The "Rabochij i Kolhoznitsa" exhibition center. Firstly, all the exhibits are works made by young students of children`s art school "The Start". But this fact makes it even much more interesting and exciting, in comparison with objects made by professionals.

     In spite of the fact, that the age of artists is under fifteen years old, some outcomes could be considered as finished mature projects. And it is hard to believe, that a young person could be so practiced and experienced.
     At the other hand, all the atmosphere of event is full of spirit of youth and freedom, and from the very beginning transfers your into the world of children`s dreams and fantasies. Combinations of constructivism principles and kid`s imagination looks just amazing and would be interesting and exciting to explore for everyone.

   The superior value of this exhibition is an opportunity to take a look at the serious sphere of a human activity from position of a child, who has much less stereotypes and fears and, it is also very important,
partly conceives everything as a game. The "Playground approach" is an instrument, that adults usually forget about, but it helps to achieve incredible outcomes very often. The endless brave experiments is a certain way to success.

     In conclusion I`d like to say, that it is really great to see such enthusiastic and curious attitude of young generation and of their tutors as well, the educational work had been done is enormous.
         The one thing I am worry about because of hight level of my young competitors is my future employment.

Kramin Alex

Aya Sofia

During a visit to Istanbul tourist should visit Aya Sofia building, and beginning architect - even more so. Building this church for over 1400 years, it has been repeatedly rebuilt after earthquakes, fire, and the conquest of Constantinople by the Turks.

Interestingly, the most ancient of comparable scale structures were built about 1000 years after the Aya Sofia.

The "Open" city exhibition.

     Dear all, firstly I want to strongly recommend your to visit this exhibition ,and may be it would be more useful to do it before you read this post.
      One of the most significant current discussions about live of our capital are about renovation and development of city architecture, the exhibition in Shchusev State Museum of Architecture is also  dedicated to this problem. At the one hand,it is really great ,that after years of uncontrolled private development, authorities and concerned parties at last have decided to take control on this field of city development and produce really suitable and satisfactory propositions.Moreover, Moscow is an economical and cultural center,so it requires a very special treatment.(Competitions are set to chose the best project,which will comply with every request, and provide fair selection.)The exhibition performs the most sophisticated propositions from russian and european architectural bureaus.

   The main themes for the projects are: new concepts for educational purposes, renovation of important existing buildings,museums actually,effective ways of construction of residential houses. Also,a series of projects is dedicated to a problem of inappropriate visual advertising,which is quite actual for a central districts.Some designs are really fascinating, some can cause questions or even disappoint, but as a whole, the exhibition is for sure worth to be visited.Moreover, every project includes detailed plans,that will be useful for every engaged person.So be prepared to spend some extra time in this place.

             
     The one thing i have been confused and distracted is the way works are presented  and the choice of the place. Too little attention has been paid to the space, where the event took place.It could be my own opinion,but white plastic boards with cheap uncomfortable illumination look like aliens into the old line  aria with stone walls, decorated dome sealing and old fashioned chandelier.

    It seems to be strange,that architecture exhibition has been organized into the environment which fits so strange and unnatural with the exhibits .Nowadays there are a lot of various platforms ,where all these objects could be presented in a more appropriate way and keep the atmosphere of novelty,progress and changes. It is a bit hard to believe in all the optimistic projects in cause of the fails in organization.But may be I am just too meticulous.
           

        P.S. The exposition contains marvelous and super precise constructed models. Unfortunately,only three items are exposed.

Kramin Alex