This work is priced unframed. Please enquire for framing options.

Exodus 2021 4 Digital Collages Print on Paper Gerd Wetzel & Valerie Kronauer About For Valerie Kronauer and Gerd Wetzel, the Brexit and the approaching anniversary year of "EXODUS or the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture", the final thesis by Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis, published in 1972 provided an opportunity to shed light on the work "Exodus" in light of the developments of the past decades and to scrutinise it in the context of the approaches and criticism of the time. The scale of the structure in "Exodus", which is difficult to comprehend, is made concrete in "Exodus 2021" by placing it in concrete relation to the surrounding urban space. This allows the authors to immerse themselves in the structure and re-imagine individual areas. This inevitably draws on the aesthetic expression of the original work. By means of minimalist geometry and monotonous structures, the work takes up the real utopian vision of Brexit and in turn picks up on the narrative of the original work. Uniformity, dissociation and dissolution of boundaries with the modern world, conventions of Background Architecture and urban planning are design disciplines that point to new futures and contribute to social discourse. Although glossy magazines might suggest otherwise, it is not always just about pure lifestyle and aesthetics. The history of architecture shows that since the beginning of human coexistence, the built environment has always been a reflection of social processes and social development. It almost always began with a grievance that was contrasted with speculative futures. The resulting new perspectives promoted ideas and visions for positive change. Speculation arises from observations. From perceived statistics. From desire, hope and imagination. It is one of the drivers of change and innovation. It must be proven in order to be processed into solutions for collective needs and to make change realisable. Concrete social issues have always been conveyed in artistic forms. Today, they form an impressive documentation of trends and awareness from previous eras. One of these contributions is the final thesis by Rem Koolhaas and Elia Zenghelis, published in 1972. Together with Madelon Vriesendorp and Zoe Zenghelis, they expressed their urbanist impulses in "EXODUS or the Voluntary Prisoners of Architecture". Using the collage technique, the authors criticised the physical and ideological decay of urban societies in text and images and made direct reference to contemporary issues and problems in their reflections. Based on the Berlin Wall, which Rem Koolhaas visited in the course of preparing his work, "Exodus" plays with the contrasts between constraints and freedom, as well as social transformations in modern cities in the context of increasing globalisation and urbanisation. Although the work is already over 50 years old, the subject matter and methods used have by no means lost their relevance or topicality.