Architecture as air

It’s perhaps not surprising that the work of an architect who describes the Barbican’s The Curve gallery as ‘melting endlessly into space’ is delicate and ethereally minimalist.

Junya Ishigami, Another scale of architecture – cloud, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, 2010. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi, © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photograph by: Yasushi Ichikawa
Junya Ishigami, Another scale of architecture – cloud, Toyota Municipal Museum of Art, 2010. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi, © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photograph by: Yasushi Ichikawa

The architect in question is Japan-based Junya Ishigami, whose first UK installation will take place at The Curve gallery next month. The installation, which has been devised in response to the shape of the London gallery, comprises of a single curved line of 4m columns that appear as though they are floating without support. The columns stretch across the entire 80m length of the space, and only give away their transparent structural support when you scrutinize them closely.

Junya Ishigami, Japanese Pavilion, 11th Venice Biennale of Architecture, 2008. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi © Junya Ishigami
Junya Ishigami, Japanese Pavilion, 11th Venice Biennale of Architecture, 2008. Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi © Junya Ishigami

Junya Ishigami. Balloon, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2007, Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photograph by: Yasushi Ichikawa
Junya Ishigami. Balloon, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, 2007, Courtesy Gallery Koyanagi © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photograph by: Yasushi Ichikawa

Known for his precision, experimental approach and honed architectural research, Ishigami often creates a sense of weightlessness and balance in his work. Previous projects have included a four-storey aluminium balloon which was floated within the atrium of Tokyo’s Museum of Contemporary Art, despite weighing a whopping ton, and the delicate flora-covered Japanese Pavilion for the 2008 Venice Biennale.

Junya Ishigami, Architecture as air: study for chateau la coste, 12th Venice Biennale of Architecture, 2010 © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photography by: Joseph Grima
Junya Ishigami, Architecture as air: study for chateau la coste, 12th Venice Biennale of Architecture, 2010 © Junya Ishigami, junya.ishigami+associates, Photography by: Joseph Grima

The installation will inhabit the gallery until October and will be accompanied by a series of talks including the opportunity to hear Ishigami talk about the inspiration behind the installation on 28 June.

Junya Ishigami, Photograph by: Kenshu Shintsubo
Junya Ishigami, Photograph by: Kenshu Shintsubo

Architecture as Air runs atThe Curve, Barbican Art Gallery, London from 28 June-16 October.

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  • OCR Conversion Outsourcing November 30, -0001 at 12:00 am

    Thank you Laura Snoad…i love your gallery

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