conceptions of space: MoMA NYC's recent acquisitions in architecture

didier faustino (french, born portugal, 1968)
double happiness. 2009
photograph on baryt paper, 29 1/2 x 22 1/16″ (74.9 x 56 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. architecture and design purchase fund
photograph © didier faustino

conceptions of space: recent acquisitions in contemporary architecture
the museum of modern art, new york
now through october 19, 2014

serving to highlight the recent acquisitions in MoMA’s department of architecture and design, ‘conceptions of space’ speaks to the manner in which various architects continue to define the profession through diverse methods of spatial creation. the exhibition reveals that the development and articulation of architecture transcends form making and functional requirements, and as a result is defined as an artistic endeavor inherently responding to wider cultural issues.

iwan baan (dutch, born 1975)
herzog & de meuron’s national stadium, beijing. 2008
digital c-print, 36 x 54″ (91.4 x 137.2 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of elise jaffe + jeffrey brown
photograph © iwan baan

in the early and mid-20th century, the notion of space was fundamental in describing modernism in architecture. new understandings were intimately concerned with a blended relationship between the interior and exterior of buildings, becoming a novel and prominent aspect in design. additionally, the era sought to subvert the previous view of architecture as being a series of styles, and instead became shaped through a privileged quest defined by a common practice. over time however, space was actively reclaimed by a mix of professions, including interventions and reflections from artists, geographers, and sociologists, among others.

as a survey of how contemporary architecture is addressing this expanded understanding of space, the display presents twenty international projects by architects and artists, through photographs, drawings, large-scale models, videos, and also a room-sized installation. various loose categories organize the exhibition, including areas for ‘assemblage’ or ‘envelope’, as well as seemingly oppositional groups like ‘fictional’ and ‘performative.’ participants offer a diverse global overview, from acclaimed architects such as herzog & de meuron, álvaro siza, and kengo kuma, to young, emergent practices such as pezo von ellrichshausen, chile; ryue nishizawa, japan; ensamble studio, spain; and the new york-based SO-IL and MOS architects.

jimenez lai (taiwanese-canadian, born 1979)
white elephant (privately soft). 2011
aluminum, rubber, sandblasted polycarbonate, fabric, cowhide, and polyfill batting, 144 x 147 x 90″ (365.8 x 373.4 x 228.6 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the architect
photograph: magnus lindqvist

jakub szczęsny (polish, born 1973)
keret house, warsaw, poland. 2012
the logic. ink on paper, 11 11/16 x × 16 1/2″ (29.7 × 41.9 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the architect
© 2014 jakub szczęsny
see more on this project here.

michael maltzan architecture
pittman dowell residence, la crescenta, california. 2004–09
model. wood, paper, and acrylic, 11 × 36 1/2 × 36″ (27.9 × 92.7 × 91.4 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of andrea woodner
© 2014 michael maltzan

SO – IL
kukje art center, seoul. 2011–12
photograph © iwan baan

daniel grataloup (swiss, born 1937)
urban proposal with multiple thin-shell capsules. project, 1970—96
aerial perspective, 1970. pencil and ink on vellum, 11 5/8 x 16 1/2″ (29.5 x 41.9 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the architect
© 2014 daniel grataloup

MOS architects
museum of outdoor arts element house, las vegas, new mexico. 2008—13
the romance of systems. digital video (color, sound)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the architects
© 2014 MOS architects

marjectica potrč (slovenian, born 1953)
struggle for spatial justice. 2005—07
ink and marker on paper, 10 3/4 × 8 1/4″ (27.3 × 21 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of constance r. caplan
© 2014 marjetica potrč

fernando guerra (portuguese, born 1970)
álvaro siza’s iberê camargo museum, porto alegre, brazil. 1998—2008
photograph © fernando guerra

LOT-EK
APAP openschool, anyang, korea. 2010
model. cardboard and acrylic, 7 1/2 x 15 x 20″ (19.1 x 38.1 x 50.8 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the contemporary arts council of the museum of modern art
© 2014 LOT-EK
see more on this project here.

kengo kuma & associates
GC prostho museum research center, kasugai aichi, japan. 2010
pencil on tracing paper, 16 1/2 x 11 3/4″ (41.9 x 29.8 cm)
the museum of modern art, new york. gift of the architect
© 2014 kengo kuma & associates

the exhibition is organized by pedro gadanho, curator, with phoebe springstubb, curatorial assistant, department of architecture and design, MoMA.

architecture and design collection exhibitions are made possible by hyundai card.

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