surplus value architecture and labor a proposal for the ... · architecture and labor a proposal...

SurplusValueArchitectureandlabor

AproposalfortheOsloArchitectureTriennale2019

by

BrendanCormier

+

FIGProjects(FabrizioGallantiandFranciscaInsulza)

+

MabelO.Wilson

London/Montréal/NewYorkOctober2017

Cormier/FIGProjects/Wilson–SurplusValue.Architectureandlabor.October2017.

SurplusvalueArchitectureandlabor

Introduction

Inrecentyears,theroleplayedbyarchitecture,urbanplanning,andingeneraldesignpracticeswithregardstotheorganizationoflaborhasbecomecentraltotheinterestsofnumeroussubjects.Ratherthanthinkingarchitectureasaneutralagent,itsmodesofoperationhavebeenconsideredinstrumentaltothedeploymentofeconomicandsocialapparatusesofdominance.ThetheoreticalengagementofBrazilianarchitectSergioFerro,whoelaboratedduringthe‘60sand‘70sthenotionofthearchitecturalprojectanditsconstructionasmeanstoextractsurplusvalue,anticipatesnumerouscurrentconcerns,thatononehandconcentrateabouthowarchitecturecontributestothecontrolofworkersandontheotherseekforpotentialalternatives.Thescopeofsuchfocushasexpanded:generatingnewalliancesbetweenunionsandtrans-nationaladvocacygroupsinordertoguaranteeworkers’rightsduringtheexecutionofsignaturebuildingsorcomingtodescribetheentirecityasacomplexeconomicmechanism,withinwhichdesignandplanningplayacrucialrole(LeCorbusiermentioningtransportastimesubtractedtoworkersorArchizoom’sreadingofthetotalityofthemetropolitanrealmasafactory)orseeinglifeasawholeastheobjectofexploitation(theconceptofbiopoliticsanalyzedbyphilosopherssuchasMelindaCooperwiththecorollarydemandforuniversalguaranteedsalary).

Theme

Theproposaltitled“surplusvalue”considershowarchitectureisengagedintheorganizationoflabor.Thecurrenttransformationsoflaborandwork(off-shoring,automation,novelformsofimmaterialproduction,on-demandhiring,digitalsurveillanceofproductivity,etc..)areincessantlychangingandsoaretheformsofpoliticalmobilizationtocounteractthemechanismsbywhichcapitalismcontinuestoextractsurplusvalue.Ultimatelylaborasweknowitmightentirelydisappear:howwillourlivesandthespacesaroundthembecomewhenworkwillnolongerbethere?Inorganizingspaceandtime,architectsandnumerous


complementaryprofessionalshavesupportedcapitalistinitiativestoarrangeandcontrolworkersandtodictatetheiractivities.Atthesametime,architecturalexpertisehasalsobeenmobilizedtocounteractsuchstrategies,providingalternativepoliticalvisions,differentformsofsocialorganizationandcontributingtothelaunchofdeliberateactsofresistance

“Surplusvalue”exploresthecontradictionsarchitecturefaceswhenaddressingtheconditionofworkanditscurrentorganization.

Concept

Thedifferentcomponentsincludedwithinthisproposalaimtoestablishaframeworktodebatehowarchitectureisequallyaproactiveagentofexploitationandatoolofemancipation.Theprojectintendsthereforetoshedlightonthisdialectic,followingthreemainnarratives:howdesignimplementstheorganizationoflaborandhowthisisbeingtransformedintheactualneo-industrialepoch;howthebuildingprocessisarticulatedfromconceptiontoexecution,mobilizingdiverseexpertiseandsubjectivitiesandfinallyhowthesocalled“creative”workofdesigniscurrentlystructured.Thetopicwillbeaddressedbyjuxtaposinghistoricalprecedentsinordertoprovidedepthtoourunderstandingofthecurrentconditionsandtocriticallyre-engagewithpastideasandproposalsthatmightbecomevaluabletoday;builtandongoingprojectsthateitherareiconicofthecurrenttrendsorareprovidingformsofresistancetothem;analyticalreadings,wherethetoolsofinquiryandrepresentation,propertoarchitectureandurbanstudies,canbemobilizedtocreateanddisseminateknowledge;andprospectiveinitiatives,wherenovelvisionscanbedevelopedaspoliticalinstrumentsforchange.


Components

MainexhibitionTheexhibitionwilloperateasaninventoryofsingularelements,consistentwiththeconceptanditsstructure.Audienceswillbeexposedtoamultiplicityofcontents,sometimescontroversial,withwhichtoengageinrelationshiptothepersonalconditionsoftheirlabor:ultimately,weallwork.Duringtheinitialphaseofresearchsalientsub-topicsandgroupingswillbeidentifiedandarticulatedtogeneratethecuratorialnarrativeoftheexhibition.Itisthegeneralintentionoftheexhibitiontooperatebyanalogyandcomparativereadings,withattentiontoNorwayandOslo:narrativesofworkregisteredtherewillbeplacedintensionwithexamplesandexperiencesfromothercontexts.ElementsoftheexhibitioncanincludehistoricalmaterialastheinquiriesbyHannesMeyerabouttheorganizationofagriculturalworkinMexicoduringthe‘30s,theBürolandschaftconceptdevelopedbyEberhard&WolfgangSchnelleinthe‘50sortheBauhäusleself-buildinginitiativescoordinatedbyPeterSulzerandPeterHübnerinStuttgartinthe‘70s;theongoingresearchesonremittanceurbanismbyHusos,onverticalurbanfactoriesbyLinaRappaportorcontemporaryslaveworkinthebuildingindustrybyContraconductas;commissionednewdocumentationandanalysisaroundemergingactivitiesandtheirspatialconfigurations,whichcanbedevelopedbyfilm-makers,photographersandotherpractitioners(automatizedindoorfarminginNorthernCaliforniaormassivecosmeticsurgeryfacilitiesinSouthKorea);noveltypologiessuchas“impact-hubs”,“co-workingspaces”,“temporaryworkers’camps”orentireurbaninterventions,relatedtospecializedproductionasPajuBookCityinSouthKorea;criticalreadingsofhighlysymbolicalprojectssuchasSiliconValleyrecentcompanyheadquarters;andnewproposalsthatcanfederatedifferentspecialistsandexperts,asLab.Pro.Fab.fromCaracas,ArquitecturaExpandidafromBogotà,(all)zonefromBangkok,AAAfromParisorInterboroDesignfromNewYorkThemainobjectiveoftheexhibitionistorevealthearticulatedlandscapethatsurroundthereflectionaboutlaborandspatialproductiontoday,inscribingitwithinawiderhistoricaltrajectory.


Activities

Theproposalseekstofindintegrationandoverlapsbetweenthedifferentactivitiesandeventswhichwillbepartofitscoreprogramming(forinstanceacademicworkshopsconnectedwiththelocationsoftheprojectforpublicspace,“TheWorkers’Assembly”)

ProjectinthepublicspaceTheWorkers’Assembly.DuringtheentireperiodoftheOsloArchitectureTriennale,weproposeaseriesofmeetingsinthecityofOsloanditssurroundingterritorytointercept,documentandexpressthedifferentformsoflabor.Thesemeetingswilltaketheformofassemblieswhereworkers,tradeunionspersonnel,representativesfromcompaniesandinstitutions,mediators,designersandexternalcontributorswilldiscussaboutthespecificconditionsofwork.Byidentifyingseveralquintessentiallocations(thestart-up,themanufacturingfactory,thecorporateheadquarters,thefarm),theseriesofencounterswillprovideaparallelnarrativetothemainexhibition.DesignworkshopswithintheframeworkoftheAcademicForumcanaccompanysuchassemblies.

ConferenceAninternationaltwo-dayconferencewillgatheractivists,politicians,unionmembers,designersandexpertstounderstandwhatarethecurrenttendencieswithintherelationshipbetweenarchitecture,spatialproductionandlaborandwhataretheconcreteactionsthatcanbedevelopedtocounteractthepressuresofthemarket,accompanyingongoinginitiatives.

AcademicForumDuringtheperiodofpreparationoftheTriennale,aseriesofthematicworkshopswillbeconductedwiththecollaborationofarchitectureanddesignschools,invariouslocationsaroundtheworld(3to4).PotentialpartneringinstitutionsincludetheSchoolofArchitectureoftheUniversityofIllinoisinChicago;theArchitectureProgrammeattheRoyalAcademyofArtsinLondon;theCollegeofArchitectureandUrbanPlanningatTongjiUniversityinShanghaiandtheEscoladaCidadeinSaoPaulo.Theresultsoftheseactivities(whichcouldinvestpracticesofdescriptionorofdesign)willthenbepresentedinOslo,withthecollaborationoftheOslo


SchoolofArchitectureandDesignAHO,duringaconcludingforum.Theforumwillincorporatepublicpresentations,toursandworkshopstobeconductedinsynergywith“TheWorkers’Assembly”module.

Publication

“SurplusValue”willbeaccompaniedbyabook,structuredaroundthreekeycomponents.Criticalessaysreferredtothecasestudies,storiesandtopicspresentedwithintheexhibition;contributions(bothtextualandvisual)thatillustratecurrentlocalizedconditions,inordertogenerateanindexedatlasofspatialpracticesreferredtocontemporarylabor(followingthemodelofthedictionaryincludedinthevolume“Blank--:Architecture,ApartheidandAfter”,publishedbyNAiin1999)andananthologyofexistingessaysandtexts,apttoframethediscourse,withparticularemphasisonthetranslationofmaterialnotyetavailableinEnglish.

DigitalPublicationSeriesThematerialgatheredwithlocalactorsduringtheinternationalworkshopsconductivetotheAcademicForumwillbeatthebasefortherealizationofaseriesofspecialissuesofanonlinemagazine,composedoftexts,visualessays,documentaryvideos,analyticaldiagramsandrepresentationsthatwillportrayspecificlocalconditionsassymptomaticofwidertrends.


Timeline

Aschematicallocationoftimewouldstructurethemainactivitiesasfollows:

ThematicresearchandidentificationofparticipantsJanuary2018–May2018

DefinitionoftheoperativestructureJanuary2018–March2018

ResearchonarchivalmaterialJanuary2018–October2018

Commissionstoparticipants(definitionofcontracts,finetuningofbriefs,meetings,)May–September2018

InternationalacademicworkshopsSeptember2018–June2019

CuratorialsequenceandobjectlistJanuary2019–May2019

Exhibitiondesign,budgetingandproductionplanningFebruary2019–May2019

Production,editionandformattingofworksforexhibitionandpublicationsMarch2019–June2019

Loansrequests,purchaseofmaterial,transportstoOsloMarch2019–July2019

Finaledition,proofreadingandlayoutofpublicationJune2019–December2019

FinalproductionandinstallationJuly2019–September2019

OpeningweekSeptember2019

PublicactivitiesinOsloSeptember2019–November2019

InternationallaunchofpublicationJanuary2020


Structureofcuratorialteam

TheproposedteamiscomposedofBrendanCormier-London,FIGProjects(FabrizioGallantiandFranciscaInsulza)–Montréal,andMabelO.Wilson–NewYork,withequalandcomplementaryresponsibilitiesandrolesaschiefcurators.Thiscollaborationisbasedonthesharedinterestsandongoingresearchofthemembers,dedicatedtotherelationshipbetweeneconomy,politics,urbantransformations,productionofspaceanddesignpractices.Alsopourdifferentbackgroundsandtrajectorieswillallowtocoverawiderinternationalapproach.Thecompletestructureoftheworkinggroup(includingcollaboratorssuchasresearchassistants,curatorialcoordinators,editors,etc.)andofcomplementarypartners(exhibitionandgraphicdesigners,Internetdevelopers,etc.)willbedeterminedintheearlystagesofthecuratorialwork.Thecuratorialgroupintendstoestablishasemi-permanentofficeinOslotodeveloptheresearchandthedifferentcomponentsoftheOsloArchitectureTriennale2019.

CVS(extendeddocumentationavailableuponrequest)

BrendanCormier

BrendanCormierisawriter,curator,andurbandesignercurrentlybasedinLondon.HeholdsaM.ScinUrbanDesignattheBauhausUniversität-Weimar,InstitutfürEuropäisheUrbanistikandaBachelorsofUrbanandRegionalPlanningatRyersonUniversity,SchoolofUrbanandRegionalPlanninginToronto.Heiscurrentlytheleadcuratorof20thand21stCenturyDesignfortheShekouPartnershipattheVictoriaandAlbertMuseuminLOndon.Priortothisrole,heservedasthemanagingeditorofVolumeMagazine,continuingtocollaborateaseditorialadvisor.HeregularlywritesforvariouspublicationsincludingMark,Domus,Azure,Monu,Thresholds,Conditions,andCanadianArchitectonarchitecturalandurbanissues.HehastaughtattheBerlageInstituutinDelftandBruceMau'sInstituteWithoutBoundariesinToronto.In2009heco-foundedtheresearchanddesignstudioDepartmentofUnusualCertaintiesinToronto,wherehedesignedseveralexhibitioninstallationsthatexploredurbanissues.In2011hewasnamedinnovator-in-residenceattheDesignExchange,Canada'snationaldesignmuseum,wherehewasableto


contributetoandinfluencethecurationofexhibitionsandprogrammingofeventsatthemuseum.HehaslecturedinternationallyaboutarchitectureanddesignininstitutionssuchasBezalelAcademy,Jerusalem,RietveldAcademy,Amsterdam,INDA,Bangkok,ArkitekturensGrannarandtheRoyalInstituteofArt,Stockholm,AsiaSocietyHongKongCentre,HongKong.Hehascuratednumerousarchitectureanddesignexhibitionsuchas“ValuesofDesign”,V&AGalleryatDesignSociety,Shenzhen,China(2017),“AWorldofFragileParts”,PavilionofAppliedArtsattheVeniceBiennaleofArchitecture(2016)and‘UnidentifiedActsofDesign”,ShenzhenBiennaleofUrbanism\Architecture(2015).http://cargocollective.com/[email protected]

FIGprojectswasfoundedbyarchitectsFabrizioGallantiandFranciscaInsulzain2003inSantiagodeChile.Wideranginginnature,theirpracticeextendsfromarchitecturalexplorations(newseatfortheLiteratureSchool,UniversidadDiegoPortales,2003-2005,Santiago,Chile;firstprizeEuropan8competition,Kristiansand,Norway,2006),urbanstudies(“TheBlock”,2004;“SARSAtlas”2006;“Donde?”2006-2012),writing(FanClubseriesforInterwovenmagazine,2016-)andcuratorialprojects(“SuRut?”,2004,“TheWorldinOurEyes”,LisbonArchitectureTriennale,2016).FIGprojects’sworkhasbeenexhibitedindifferentvenuesincludingMuseodeArteContemporaneo,SantiagodeChile;exo.org,SãoPaulo;film+arch,Graz;ArchitectureandUrbanismBiennale,ShenzhenHongKong;CanadianCentreforArchitecture,Montréal;VeniceArchitectureBiennale;ArchivoDiseñoyArquitectura,México;StorefrontGalleryforArtandArchitecture,NewYorkandFlintFreeFestival,publishedinbookssuchas“USE,UncertainStatesofEurope”andinternationalmagazinesasDomus,A+Uetc.

FabrizioGallantihaswide-ragingandinternationalexperienceinarchitecturaldesign,education,publication,andexhibitions.HeholdsaPh.D.inarchitecturaldesigntheoryfromthePolitecnicodiTorino(Turin,Italy2001)andanM.Arch.fromtheUniversityofGenova(1995).In1998,hewasamongthefoundingmembersofgruppoA12,acollectiveofarchitectsdedicatedtothehybridizationofarchitecturaldesignandvisualarts(www.gruppoa12.org),withwhichhecollaborateduntil2004.HehastaughtinCanada,Chile,Italy,UKandtheUSA.Between2007and2011hewasthearchitectureeditoratAbitaremagazineandchiefeditoroftheAbitareweb-site.Between2011and2014hewastheAssociateDirectorProgramsattheCanadianCentreofArchitectureinMontréal,Canada.In2014,hewasthefirstseniorMellonfellowattheSchoolofArchitectureofPrincetonUniversity.HeisaregularcontributortomagazinessuchasHarvardDesignMagazine,InterwovenandSanRocco.


HecontributedtoAsymmetricLabors:TheEconomyofArchitectureinTheoryandPractice,editedbyAaronCayer,PeggyDeamer,SbenKorsh,EricPeterson,andManuelShvartzberg(NewYork:TheArchitectureLobby,2016).HecurrentlyteachesattheSchoolofArchitectureofMcGillUniversityinMontréalandtheArchitecturalAssociationinLondon.

FranciscaInsulzaisanindependentresearcher,consultantandpractitioner.ShetrainedasanarchitectattheUniversidadCentralinSantiago,Chile,hasaM.ArchfromtheBerlageInstituutinRotterdamandaPh.D.inHistoryofArchitecture,fromthePolitecnicodiTorino.Specializedinresearchrelatedtoterritorialtransformationsandtherepresentationofurbandynamics,shewasafoundingmemberofthemultiplicitynetwork(www.multiplicity.it)andhasparticipatedinnumerouscollectiveprojectsthatcombineresearch,exhibitionandpublication,mostrecently“MoscowTales’(StrelkaInstitute,Moscow)and‘SaoPauloCalling’(CentroCulturalSaoPaulo,Brazil).ShehastaughtinCanada,Chile,Italy,HollandandRussia.Sheisco-authorof“USE-UncertainStatesofEurope”(Skira,2003)and“MaddalenaEffect,anArchitecturalAffair”(RizzoliInternational,2009)andhaswidelypublishedininternationalarchitecturalmagazinessuchasA+UandOris.SheiscurrentlyDirector,Program&ContentatLeForuméconomiqueinternationaldesAmériquesinMontréal.

[email protected]@fig-projects.com

MabelO.Wilson

ProfessorMabelO.Wilsonteachesarchitecturaldesignandhistory/theorycoursesatColumbiaGSAPPinNewYork.ShereceivedherB.S.inArchitecturefromUniversityofVirginia,MastersofArchitecturefromColumbiaGSAPPandaPh.DinAmericanStudiesfromNewYorkUniversity.SheisSeniorFellowattheInstituteforResearchinAfricanAmericanStudiesandco-directsGlobalAfricaLab.Herdesignandscholarlyresearchinvestigatesspace,politicsandculturalmemoryinblackAmerica;raceandmodernarchitecture;newtechnologiesandthesocialproductionofspace;andvisualcultureincontemporaryart,filmandnewmedia.


HertransdisciplinarypracticeStudioAndhasbeenacompetitionfinalistforseveralimportantculturalinstitutionsincludinglowerManhattan’sAfricanBurialGroundMemorialandtheSmithsonian’sNationalMuseumforAfricanAmericanHistoryandCulture(withDillerScofidio+Renfro).ExhibitionsofherworkhavebeenfeaturedattheWexnerCenterfortheArts,theCooperHewittNationalDesignMuseum’sTriennial,theStorefrontforArtandArchitectureandSFCameraworks.

SheisafoundingmemberofWhoBuildsYourArchitecture?(WBYA?)—anadvocacyprojecttoeducatethearchitecturalprofessionabouttheproblemsofglobalizationandlabor.WBYA’sworkwasfeaturedatthe2014IstanbulDesignBiennaleandattheArtsInstituteofChicagoin2017.In2011,shewashonoredasaUnitedStatesArtistsFordFellowinarchitectureanddesign.

Sheistheauthorof“NegroBuilding:BlackAmericansintheWorldofFairsandMuseums”(UniversityofCaliforniaPress2012)andof“BeginwiththePast:BuildingtheNationalMuseumofAfricanAmericanHistoryandCulture”(SmithsonianBooks,2016).Shecontributedtothevolume“TheArchitectasWorker:ImmaterialLabor,theCreativeClass,andthePoliticsofDesign”,editedbyPeggyDeamer(2015),“AsymmetricLabors:TheEconomyofArchitectureinTheoryandPractice”,editedbyAaronCayer,PeggyDeamer,SbenKorsh,EricPeterson,andManuelShvartzberg(NewYork:TheArchitectureLobby,2016).andtothecatalogueoftheOsloArchitectureTriennale2016“AfterBelonging”.

Herscholarlyessayshaveappearedinnumerousjournalsandbooksoncriticalgeography,memorystudies,artandarchitecture.Shehasreceivedawards,fellowshipsandresidenciesfromGettyResearchInstitute,NewYorkStateCouncilfortheArts,andIDmagazine.For2015-2016,sheistheAilsaMellonBruceSeniorFellowattheNationalGalleryofArtsCenterforAdvancedStudyinVisualArts.

Sheiscurrentlydevelopingthemanuscript“BuildingRaceandNation:HowSlaveryInfluencedAntebellumAmericanCivicArchitecture”andcollaboratingonacollectionofessaysonraceandmodernarchitecture.

http://studioand.orghttp://whobuilds.org/[email protected]


AchievementsInformationandmaterialaboutpastworksbythemembersofthecuratorialgroupcanbeobtainedviatheirrespectivewebsitesorupondirectrequest.Herebelowabriefoversightofrecentexhibitionsandinstallations.

BrendanCormier

UnidentifiedActsofDesign,ShenzhenBiennaleofUrbanism\Architecture,2015.

AWorldofFragileParts,PavilionofAppliedArtsattheVeniceBiennaleofArchitecture,2016.

BrendanCormier+FIGProjects

TortonaStories,Monditalia,VeniceBiennaleofArchitecture,2014.


FIGProjects

Donde-Where,ABCMTL,CCA,Montréal,2012.

TheWorldinOurEyes,GaragemSurCCB,TrienaldeArquitecturadeLisboa,2016.

MabelO.Wilson

WhoBuildsYourArchitecture?,2014-2017

WhoBuildsYourArchitecture?,2015-2017.Installationviews:left,2ndIstanbulDesignBiennale,2014;right,ArtsInstitute,Chicago,2016-2017.

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