A couple of weeks back an announcement was made regarding a commission by the National Council for Culture, Arts and Letters on Kuwait’s pavilion at the 14th Venice International Architecture Biennale that will take place from June 7 until November 23, 2014. I was planning to go to the announcement and ended up missing it but luckily someone shot the whole thing on video and put it online.
Aqcuiring Modernity_Kuwait Pavilion from youraok on Vimeo.
Depending on if you’re interested in Kuwait’s history or not, this video can end up be very boring or very interesting to watch. I personally found it interesting which is why I am posting it here but I might be bit biased since I have friends who’re taking part in this project. If you want to get into the presentation right away just skip to the 3:25 minute mark.
11 replies on “Acquiring Modernity”
For a moment I thought that was Princess Diana
yeah same here!
Because it is the late Princess Diana.
“At the inauguration of Acquiring Modernity, participants will re-stage the celebratory opening of the Kuwait National Museum in 1983.”
A composite image of Princess Diana’s anticipated visit to the Kuwait National Museum, 2014.
-Alia Farid (creative direction of artist-curator )
https://www.e-flux.com/announcements/acquiring-modernity/
I always look bored on camera.
Kuwaitis are the most liberal Gulf Arabs
Does this mean they plan to fix up the poor National Museum or just talk about how they’ve neglected it?
I heard it’s getting demolished
Really?! So, will they build another one or put a hotel/restaurant on that prime location?
i think they will be building another one. But again I’m not sure about this information, it’s just what I heard.
Plans for the KNM include the addition of several new buildings, essentially changing the character of the original design. I would argue that the existing buildings haven’t been fully utilized, as some of the spaces haven’t been fixed and used for displaying anthing since the invasion and are still in ruin.
We shouldn’t treat buildings as disposable objects, but rather we should maintain them and accommodate their use to the pressing needs of today.
We hoped the biennale effort would raise awareness of kuwait’s buildings of modernity, bringing about their need for preservation, not necessarily as pristine objects, but as functional parts of our everyday lives.
I really like the point your making with your argument and I like how this project was directed towards Kuwait , we as Kuwaitis are the main audience and Venice is the stage for witch this important message is being broadcasted . I am really proud of this pavilion.