INVITATION

Date:

07/September/2016 – (16:00 hrs)

Venue:

The Nigerian Pavilion
Spazio Punch
Giudecca 800/o, Venezia 30133, Italia.

‘A Continuous State Of Time’

(Theme from ‘Diminished Capacity‘)
Nigerian Pavilion 15th International Architecture Exhibition Venice Biennale 2016

On behalf of the Nigerian Pavilion, you are cordially invited to ‘A Continuous State Of Time‘, an interactive programme of lectures, debates and workshops on the contemporary phenomenon of conflict in architecture and art, in times of socio-cultural transformation.

‘As an integral component of the formation and evolution of a social system, conflict emerges as a significant mechanism that instigates change rather than unanimity. This phenomenon materializes in the form of various vital events such as wars, natural disasters, emigrations, population displacements, birth, death, and choice. These events ultimately become the stimuli and variants in the transformation of societies.

The constitution and composition of a social system involve conflict as a process of modification towards a different future of experience. The evolution in contemporary culture is predominantly forged by conflict or vital events which are instigating new conditions of adaptations and developments. Therefore, conflicts can be understood as a familiar interdependent relationship involving constrains and obligations.

Understanding the conflict phenomenon as a catalyst of socio-cultural evolution, reveals that the notion is a stimulant for improvement and progressive tendency. Hence, the accommodation of conflicts is a prominent objective within all aspects of social planning and intervention’.

What does it take to create an alternative approach within the routine of responding to a conflict?
How can you translate the very complex dimensions of extreme human conditions in conflict and disasters zones to something someone can relate to within their own private space?

The concept of conflict – as the main organisational principle behind the way things are ordered, conflict is not necessarily a negative, destabilising factor, on the contrary can one even benefit from it?

‘Collective Representation’ – Article 1 (blue) 2016 © Ola-Dele Kuku Projects / courtesy LMS Gallery, Brussels.

A Continuous State Of Time’ is an initiative curated by Alice Mestriner (Università Iuav di Venezia), with the collaboration of students from the Università Iuav di Venezia, as a parallel event relating to the installation by Ola-Dele Kuku (architect – artist), titled ‘Diminished Capacity’, for the Nigerian pavilion at the15th International Architecture Exhibition Venice Biennale 2016.

‘Diminished Capacity’ was conceived as a reflection of the contemporary global phenomenon of ‘Socio-Cultural Conflicts’, with specific focus on the role of ‘Information / Communication’ and the ‘Mass Media’. The exhibition will be presented as a reaction to the frictions of social communication and the mass media, vis-à-vis the notion of a unitary tendency of society and common values.

The contemporary sociology of mass media communication reveals a consistent presentation of agendas rather than reports which are illustrated by selected interest in particularities, focus and oversight’. Ola-Dele Kuku (architect – artist) The Nigerian Pavilion Venice Biennale 2016.

Agenda Setting’ II - deviant amplification

The panel aims to reflect on the topic of Socio-Cultural Conflict, a theme which is recurrent in the works, lectures and research of Ola-Dele Kuku.

Guest participants include the following:
Ahad Moslami (Artist) – Iran.
Giacomo Carlesso (Poet) – Italy.
Cinzia Didonna (Università Iuav, Venezia)
Alice Mestriner (Università Iuav, Venezia)
Camilla Boemio (Curator, Writer) – Italy.
Students from the Università Iuav, Venezia.
Ola-Dele Kuku (Architect – Artist) Exhibitor for the Nigeria pavilion.

Researchers and academics are encouraged to send their confirmations to participate in the debates. Documentation of the event will be eventually accessible online and will also feature in the book titled ‘Diminished Capacity’ which will be attributed to the Nigerian Pavilion for the 15th International Architecture Exhibition La Biennale di Venezia 2016. Join us on Wednesday, 7th September (16:00 hrs.) at the Nigerian Pavilion in the Spazio Punch, Giudecca 800/o Venezia 30133 for a stimulating discussion.

We shall be looking forward to meeting you in Venice.

Kind regards,
Camilla Boemio (curator of ‘Diminished Capacity’ – The Nigerian Pavilion).

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‘A Continuous State Of Time’ will be implemented in collaboration with:

Associazione Arte Contemporanea – AAC platform , Rome.
Creative Intelligence Association, Lagos.
Spazio Punch, Giudecca.
Ola-Dele Kuku Projects, Brussels.