Nairobi — A State of Mind Cooperation Goethe-Institut Nairobi ...

Studio Propolis
Nairobi – A State of Mind
Statement Exhibition Architecture
The architecture of the exhibition introduces spatial
relationships between the works. In occupying the gallery
space, (as opposed to only using the wall space) our
intervention begins to explore the liminal spaces that some
of the works inhabit. Moving through the exhibition one
occupies both the inside and outside of the structures and
one experiences a tension of compression and release
between the pieces.
Formally this draws reference to inhabited edges of
cities that are constantly changing. This is the architecture
of temporary structures, stage sets, hoarding around
building sites, billboards and informal shelters. The idea
of representing a city of transience suggests an anti-
monumentality that is played out in the material and
tectonic expression of the structures. There is an honesty
in which raw unfinished timber frames and panels connect
with simple lap and butt joints. These are locally available
materials which are readily used and adopt a language that
is common with such temporary architectures.
Spatially our concept played off ideas of the ephemeral|
transient, the static|dynamic and the contemporary|
historical.
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