Dr Charles Walker, associate professor, AUT University – Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies.
Image: New Zealand Institute of Architects
The New Zealand Institute of Architects (NZIA) has appointed Dr Charles Walker, associate professor in AUT University’s Faculty of Design and Creative Technologies, as creative director of the New Zealand Exhibition at the 2016 Venice Architecture Biennale.
The exhibition, titled Future Islands, proposes to investigate New Zealand’s particular island condition and its point of difference in contemporary architectural culture.
Walker’s interests span design, computing, engineering, mathematics, philosophy, art and entrepreneurship. Together with exhibition associate director Kathy Waghorn (University of Auckland School of Architecture and Planning), he will lead a creative team consisting of architects Jessica Barter, Maggie Carroll, Jonathan Rennie and Rewi Thompson, model maker Minka Ip, exhibition builder Stephen Brookbanks, and videographers Bruce Ferguson and Emma Wolf.
“Islands have always provided real sites for different ways of living, and imaginary sites for possible ways of living differently,” Walker said. “Historically, they have inspired romantic and utopian narratives, and they have always been, literally, places of discovery.”
“In this spirit, we want our exhibition to present contemporary innovative architectural practice in New Zealand. We also want to explore possible future directions for New Zealand’s architecture.”
Walker’s exhibition proposal was selected by an NZIA jury which considered 15 submissions, from teams based in New Zealand and overseas, in the competition to decide New Zealand’s official entry in the Biennale.
The Venice Architecture Biennale will open in mid-2016, and continue until November.
Future Islands will be New Zealand’s second exhibition at the Venice Architecture Biennale, following its 2014 exhibition, Last Loneliest Loveliest.
