david chipperfield named architecture mentor for rolex arts initiative

 

 

 

the rolex arts initiative has named david chipperfield mentor for architecture for 2016-2017. as part of the watch brand’s mentor and protégé initiative, the british architect has accepted an invitation to tutor a rising young talent for one year. the other six artists are: mia couto (literature), alfonso cuarón (film), philip glass (music), joan jonas (visual arts), robert lepage (theatre) and ohad naharin (dance). the biennial philanthropic program seeks out highly talented young artists from around the world, and unites them with an established name for twelve months of creative collaboration.

 

‘architecture involves complex and overlapping concerns and skills from the theoretical to the practical‘, commented chipperfield on accepting the invitation. ‘intentions are often obscured by jargon and inappropriate concerns. I would hope to remind my protégé that the issues that confront us are those that confront us all, we have different tools and methods with which we can contemplate and with which we can hopefully act.’

 

‘these seven artists have had a profound influence on their disciplines for decades and are held in high esteem by the public and their peers,’ said rebecca irvin, head of philanthropy at rolex. ‘we acknowledge their generosity in serving as mentors in the rolex arts initiative. they will join the family of internationally acclaimed artists who have committed to passing on their passion and expertise to a younger generation and to be reinvigorated in their own art in return.’

 

the mentoring year will begin in mid-2016.