Consumed: Poster

Infra_Manc

Infra_Manc opened last friday. An exhibition of great infrastructural projects, both realised and unrealised, within the enigmatic city of Manchester. Currently on at CUBE gallery, the collection on display illuminates you with a pure adventure of the imagination in to what our city may have been, whilst simultaneously cementing your amazement for the projects that came to fruition.


Whether it be a city of Helicopters, or the Guardian Underground Telephone Exchange, which  still lays below our feet unbeknownst to us, this exhibition helps to show the true innovation and ideas that progressed the city through the post-war period.


Curated by the MSA's Richard Brook and Martin Dodge of the Department of Geography at the University of Manchester, and part of the Manchester Histories Festival 2012, this exhibition is truly worth a visit. It is on display on till the 24th of March at CUBE.     

CONSUMED: Architecture + Urbanism Symposium MCR

MSA's MA Architecture + Urbanism students have begun to roll out information on their forthcoming symposium, CONSUMED, to be held at the International Anthony Burgess Foundation on the 3rd of May 2012. This years event looks towards consumption in the urban context. Various Speakers are already confirmed; Mario Minale of Minale Maeda designers in Rotterdam, and Mette Skovbjerg of Kalundborg Symbiosis. The day long event will surely be an outstanding platform for a diverse and fascinating discussion on the future of our urban context. Tickets and further information will follow over the next few weeks.


Mission Statement:

Architecture and Urbanism Symposium Manchester 2012

We live in an increasingly urban world where consumption is accelerating exponentially. Is a new approach required? One that looks towards a finite level of consumption, that addresses issues sustainably and improves how we consume.

Hosted by the students of MA in Architecture and Urbanism at Manchester School of Architecture, this symposium will look towards the future of our cities. On 3 May 2012 a wide spectrum of ideas, theories and practices of varying scales regarding an urbanism fit for consumption will be debated.

A range of invited speakers will explore the subject of consumption, both what is being done and what can be achieved to progress positively, dealing with issues such as:

- over-consumption

- speculative consumption

- symbiotic consumption

- natural consumption

- architectural consumption

- under-consumption

- equitable consumption

- creative consumption

- anti-consumption

- global consumption

Contour States

Urbanized Screening

On Thursday the 19th of January at 6.30pm there will be a screening, over at the Deaf Institute here in Manchester, of Gary Hustwit's new film, Urbanized. The third film in his documentary trilogy series, following on from Helvetica and Objectified, looks to the urbanisation of our planet. Worth a visit.

Dwelle

Manchester's Dwelle has recently completed a mock up of its micro house. Situated at the foot of the curry mile in Rusholme, it's original approach to home living appears somewhat lost in a barren landscape of mediocrity.

The Start of the End

Elisabeth House in Manchester has begun its demise. Demolition has engulfed the building and it's new existence is on the horizon.

The End: Warehouse

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Copyright Jack Penford Baker

Business School vs Business School

Image Copyright to UofM

The University of Manchester, in collaboration with Bruntwood, have released information on the proposed phased development of what is to become an expanded Business School along the Oxford Road Corridor.

The plans come as MMU's very own new Business School reaches the final stage of construction, with an opening date set for the summer of 2012. The 2 institutions look to promote the importance and growth of Business in Manchester, as the city looks to a service-led developments to act as a backbone to it's economy.

Image Copyright of MMU

The University of Manchester's scheme looks to expand the current Business School, housed in the University Precinct, with a £60million budget for new conference facilities, a four star hotel and an executive education centre for the training programs which the University have for external corporate clients.

Bruntwood is the only name mentioned in the press release, however it appears that BDP are the chosen architect for the scheme. There vast portfolio of educational-orientated work over the past 50 years puts them in a great position to deliver a much needed refresh to the school. However the shift away from student based development perhaps shows where the University of Manchester is looking to expand and grow on a more economical level. The joint venture with Bruntwood highlights the University's desire for commerciality. Bruntwood own a significant share of commercial property in Manchester, and there expansion down the Oxford Road Corridor perhaps signifies a change in the future of Universities in the country, moving towards an entirely privatised outfit of further education in the UK.   

Rashid Rana + Asia Triennial At Cornerhouse

COPYRIGHT OF KEN ADLARD

Last Friday saw the openings of Rashid Rana’s first major public show, titled ‘Everything Is Happening At Once’, and the Asia Triennial Manchester 11 at the keystone of modern art in Manchester, Cornerhouse.

Rana’s exhibition is an accumulation of his work from 2006 to present. His work looks to blend the line between the viewers perception of imagery. With the use of uniform grids, and matrixes of phenomenal quantity of photos, Rana challenges his cultural heritage with underlining layers hidden within the scale, only visible up close, a blur and unreadable at a glance. Particularly in Gallery 2, ‘Between Flesh and Blood’, there is a collection of works that challenge culturally and politically the perception of multi-culture and unified world. At a far the space appears to be littered with great mosaics and carpets from Asia, yet up close you begin to see their true detail, and a new layer is revealed. Small images build up the bigger picture, images of slaughtered animals manifest themselves into a beautiful Persian carpet. A typical mosaic begins to fade into a sea of tiled pornographic images, only visible at close proximity. Other pieces that lay across the 3 floors range from the aforementioned subjective images to grand scaled objects of art that use the space and exploration of the viewer to create a unique interaction with itself.

Rana work deals with the concept of scale beautifully, ‘Deseperatley Seeking Paradise II’ draws you into to it’s grandeur and prominence in the room. As one circles and begins to read what is on show the large scale skyline is revealed out of nowhere. It then all changes, as one gets closer the scales shifts and the revelation of the matrix of images depicting small houses from the artist’s hometown of Lahore in Pakistan. The exhibition successfully engages with it’s audience on many levels, and the interaction and visual teasing leads to an enjoyable exploration of the space.

The Asia Triennial Manchester 11 launched on Friday. A festival celebrating contemporary visual art from Asia. Rana’s exhibition is just one of the features happening between the 1^st of October and 27^th of November. Cornerhouse is also showcasing the film programme for the festival and a variety of talks curated for the festival. Events are happening across the city and information about it can be found on their website; http://www.asiatriennialmanchester.com/

Cornerhouse sits at the heart of contemporary culture in Manchester. It’s dominance of the scene is a testament to the beliefs it works to, and the determination to showcase contemporary pieces of all medias across all platforms. Except what now is to become of Cornerhouse. Plans are already set in motion, with international architects Mecanoo designing a new home for Cornerhouse and the Library Theatre, what does the future hold for this landmark outlet of art. We are all in awe of the current space, and some trepidation has to be felt for the relocation and space that it will transition to. Finally what is to become of the space in which we love to got to, will it’s function change, or is it merely an expansion and faith in the success of contemporary art.

Rashid Rana: Everything is Happening at Once runs at Cornerhouse, Manchester from Sat 01 Oct until Fri 30 Dec 2011 and admission is free.