Arata Isozki: Archipelogos of Architecture

This is the largest retrospective for the first time in Japan of architect Arata Isozaki who passed away in late 2022. Isozaki, who designed the architecture of Art Tower Mito, is known as one of the most creative and innovative architects of the 20th century and was awarded the Pritzker Architecture Prize in 2019. He held a distinguished position in the areas of philosophy, arts, cultural theory and critique over sixty years being involved in not only architectural projects and city plans but also writing, collaborations with artists and intellectuals, and curatorial work.

In his book, “Japan-ness in Architecture,” he writes, “In our contemporary state of affairs—superflatness—any precipitation would form an island; more islands would form an archipelago. But, of course, it is more than ever imperative to encourage ways of perceiving islands/archipelago other than, and beyond, a mere archetypal descent to materiality or reenactment of origins.” The concept of “archipelagos” comes from Italian philosopher Massimo Cacciari’s book “L’archipelago” (1997). With this concept as a foothold for further thinking, Isozaki positively incorporated it as an important spatial concept in his own thoughts and practices.

In this exhibition entitled “Archipelagos of Architecture,” Isozaki’s activities that were never confined to one genre are configured into archipelagos. With the keywords of city, architecture, architectural objects, flux structure, tentative form, and non-architecture (art), and through various media including architectural maquettes, plans, sketches, installations, videos, prints and watercolors, Isozaki’s path is traced and his activities going beyond architecture are introduced from a bird’s eye view on the stage of Art Tower Mito, which was designed by Isozaki himself.

Venue: Art Tower Mito (1-6-8, Gokencho, Mito, Ibaraki)