Australians David Neustein and Grace Mortlock have been selected to participate in the inaugural Chicago Architecture Biennial.
The pair are founders of otherothers – a design organization that investigates architectural culture through research, curation, criticism, events, exhibitions, graphics and communication. In 2013, Neustein and Mortlock were part of a team, alongside Dr Elizabeth Farrelly and Dan Hill, shortlisted for Australia’s exhibition at the 2014 Venice Architecture Biennale. Mortlock is an architectural curator and Neustein is an architectural designer and resident architecture critic for The Monthly. Neustein was also previously a creative director for the 2011 National Architecture Conference and shortlisted for Australia’s exhibition in the 2008 Venice Architeture Biennale.
The duo are among more than 60 architecture practices from over 30 countries selected to participate in the three-month exhibition of international contemporary architecture. The other selected participants include cutting-edge practices: along the likes of Atelier Bow-Wow (Japan), Bjarke Ingels Group (Denmark), Mass Studies (South Korea), Kunlé Adeyemi (Nigeria/Netherlands), Vo Trong Nghia Architects (Vietnam) and Studio Gang (USA). See the full list here.
The Chicago Architectural Biennial was conceived by Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel out of the 2012 cultural plan developed by Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events. The Biennial will be a platform for experimental and groundbreaking architectural projects, with a range of exhibitions, installations and events.
Its inaugural theme, The State of the Art of Architecture, is taken from the theme of the 1977 architecture conference organized by Chicago architect Stanley Tigerman. The Biennial seeks to expand on the spirit and scope of the conference with a global survey and discussion of how architectural practitioners are tackling contemporary issues.
The Chicago Architecture Biennial will be held from 3 October to 3 January in various sites across the city including Chicago Cultural Centre, Millennium Park, City Gallery in Historic Water Tower, 72 E. Randolph and the Stony Island Arts Bank.
The Biennial is co-directed by Joseph Grima and Sarah Herda, supported by an advisory council consisting of David Adjaye, Elizabeth Diller, Jeanne Gang, Frank Gehry, Sylvia Lavin, Ulrich Obrist, Lord Peter Palumbo and Stanley Tigerman.