• Assez, c'est assez ! La récente conférence intitulée “Pas si simple !” autour du thème de la simplicité dans le design est une parfaite illustration de l'aveuglement de notre société face à des enjeux cruciaux. On nous a servi un menu indigeste d'éléments prétendument simples, alors qu'en réalité, la complexité du design moderne est en train de détruire notre sens commun.

    Comment peut-on encore parler de simplicité quand le monde du design est devenu un labyrinthe de choix inutiles et de tendances éphémères ? Les conférenciers, avec leurs discours vides et leurs jargons abscons, essaient de nous convaincre que tout cela est une quête pour la simplicité. Mais la vérité est bien plus sombre. Ils nous enferment dans des cycles de consommation où chaque nouvelle tendance exige que nous révisions nos notions de base, des notions que nous pensions avoir intégrées.

    Les réseaux sociaux regorgent d'exemples de ce désastre. Regardez les plateformes où le design est devenu un outil de vanité plus qu'un moyen de communication. Ces soi-disant experts nous bombardent de visuels épurés mais totalement dénués de sens. Qu'est-ce qui reste de la véritable fonction du design ? Où sont passées les valeurs fondamentales qui devraient guider chaque création ? Ce n'est pas la simplicité qui doit être célébrée, mais l'authenticité et la pertinence.

    Il est désolant de constater que cette conférence n'a fait que renforcer l'idée que le design peut être réduit à une question de choix esthétiques superficiels. Les participants ont applaudi des concepts qui ont été présentés sans aucune profondeur. Oui, la simplicité est essentielle, mais elle ne doit pas être synonyme de banalité. Nous avons besoin de leaders d'opinion qui osent remettre en question le statu quo au lieu de se contenter de flatter les egos des designers en herbe.

    Ne vous laissez pas berner par une façade simpliste. La vraie complexité du design réside dans sa capacité à répondre à des besoins réels, à évoquer des émotions et à engager des dialogues. L'absence de profondeur dans des événements comme “Pas si simple !” est une insulte à tous ceux qui travaillent dur pour faire avancer le design et la communication.

    Réveillons-nous ! La simplicité ne doit pas être un prétexte pour négliger le sens et la fonctionnalité. Si nous voulons vraiment avancer, il est temps de dénoncer ces discours creux et de revendiquer un design qui a du contenu, de la substance et, par-dessus tout, de l'impact.

    #Design #Simplicité #Critique #Conférence #Graphéine
    Assez, c'est assez ! La récente conférence intitulée “Pas si simple !” autour du thème de la simplicité dans le design est une parfaite illustration de l'aveuglement de notre société face à des enjeux cruciaux. On nous a servi un menu indigeste d'éléments prétendument simples, alors qu'en réalité, la complexité du design moderne est en train de détruire notre sens commun. Comment peut-on encore parler de simplicité quand le monde du design est devenu un labyrinthe de choix inutiles et de tendances éphémères ? Les conférenciers, avec leurs discours vides et leurs jargons abscons, essaient de nous convaincre que tout cela est une quête pour la simplicité. Mais la vérité est bien plus sombre. Ils nous enferment dans des cycles de consommation où chaque nouvelle tendance exige que nous révisions nos notions de base, des notions que nous pensions avoir intégrées. Les réseaux sociaux regorgent d'exemples de ce désastre. Regardez les plateformes où le design est devenu un outil de vanité plus qu'un moyen de communication. Ces soi-disant experts nous bombardent de visuels épurés mais totalement dénués de sens. Qu'est-ce qui reste de la véritable fonction du design ? Où sont passées les valeurs fondamentales qui devraient guider chaque création ? Ce n'est pas la simplicité qui doit être célébrée, mais l'authenticité et la pertinence. Il est désolant de constater que cette conférence n'a fait que renforcer l'idée que le design peut être réduit à une question de choix esthétiques superficiels. Les participants ont applaudi des concepts qui ont été présentés sans aucune profondeur. Oui, la simplicité est essentielle, mais elle ne doit pas être synonyme de banalité. Nous avons besoin de leaders d'opinion qui osent remettre en question le statu quo au lieu de se contenter de flatter les egos des designers en herbe. Ne vous laissez pas berner par une façade simpliste. La vraie complexité du design réside dans sa capacité à répondre à des besoins réels, à évoquer des émotions et à engager des dialogues. L'absence de profondeur dans des événements comme “Pas si simple !” est une insulte à tous ceux qui travaillent dur pour faire avancer le design et la communication. Réveillons-nous ! La simplicité ne doit pas être un prétexte pour négliger le sens et la fonctionnalité. Si nous voulons vraiment avancer, il est temps de dénoncer ces discours creux et de revendiquer un design qui a du contenu, de la substance et, par-dessus tout, de l'impact. #Design #Simplicité #Critique #Conférence #Graphéine
    Conférence ”Pas si simple !“
    Conférence & table ronde autour du thème de la simplicité dans le design. L’article Conférence ”Pas si simple !“ est apparu en premier sur Graphéine - Agence de communication Paris Lyon.
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  • CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup

    CGI 3D Animated Short Film: Nodoubt Animated Short Film by Lin Lin at Ringling College of Art and Design. Featured on CGMeetup Gallery

    Motivated by a poster in her hospital room, Ave Lee, embarks on a journey of recovery. She finds her inner warrior to overcome the mountain of doubt that confronts her.

    Directed by Lin Lin ;#13;
    
    SUBSCRIBE to CGMeetup for more inspiring content! ;#13;
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    VFX Breakdowns, Making of & Behind the Scene: 
    
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    WANT TO GET FEATURED?
    All CGI artists, studios or schools who would like their work featured or
    published on CGMeetup please apply below. We’re looking for short films, commercial spots, breakdowns, showreels etc.
    Submit here → ;#13;
    Contact us here → info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
    
    Please Note: All videos are uploaded after written copyright permission from respected Artists, Studios or Schools Or part of the Creative Commons license.
    ;#13;
    For more details or to dispute please contact us at info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
    
    ABOUT CGMeetup:
    CGMeetup is the #1 inspiration resource for all CGI, VFX, 3D and Digital artists. We feature a wide variety of CGI content including behind-the-
    scenes, vfx breakdowns, short films & showreels.
    
    CGMeetup also serves as networking resource for CGI Professionals.
    Professionals use CGMeetup to exchange ideas, knowledge & job
    opportunities.
    
    CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup 
    ;#13;
    
    CGMeetup
    
    
    #animation #animated #3d #cgi #shortfilm #short #animatedshortfilm
    #cgi #animated #short #film #quotnodoubtquot
    CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup
    CGI 3D Animated Short Film: Nodoubt Animated Short Film by Lin Lin at Ringling College of Art and Design. Featured on CGMeetup Gallery Motivated by a poster in her hospital room, Ave Lee, embarks on a journey of recovery. She finds her inner warrior to overcome the mountain of doubt that confronts her. Directed by Lin Lin ;#13; 
 SUBSCRIBE to CGMeetup for more inspiring content! ;#13; Watch More CGI & VFX Animated Short Films: ;#13; VFX Breakdowns, Making of & Behind the Scene: 
 
 FOLLOW US:
 Website: 
 YouTube ;#13; Facebook ;#13; Twitter ;#13; Google+ ;#13; Dailymotion ;#13; Pinterest ;#13; Instagram ;#13; 
 WANT TO GET FEATURED?
 All CGI artists, studios or schools who would like their work featured or
 published on CGMeetup please apply below. We’re looking for short films, commercial spots, breakdowns, showreels etc.
 Submit here → ;#13; Contact us here → info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
 
 Please Note: All videos are uploaded after written copyright permission from respected Artists, Studios or Schools Or part of the Creative Commons license.
 ;#13; For more details or to dispute please contact us at info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
 
 ABOUT CGMeetup:
 CGMeetup is the #1 inspiration resource for all CGI, VFX, 3D and Digital artists. We feature a wide variety of CGI content including behind-the-
 scenes, vfx breakdowns, short films & showreels.
 
 CGMeetup also serves as networking resource for CGI Professionals.
 Professionals use CGMeetup to exchange ideas, knowledge & job
 opportunities.
 
 CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup 
 ;#13; 
 CGMeetup
 
 
 #animation #animated #3d #cgi #shortfilm #short #animatedshortfilm #cgi #animated #short #film #quotnodoubtquot
    WWW.YOUTUBE.COM
    CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup
    CGI 3D Animated Short Film: Nodoubt Animated Short Film by Lin Lin at Ringling College of Art and Design. Featured on CGMeetup Gallery http://www.cgmeetup.com/gallery Motivated by a poster in her hospital room, Ave Lee, embarks on a journey of recovery. She finds her inner warrior to overcome the mountain of doubt that confronts her. Directed by Lin Lin https://doubles.portfoliobox.net/&amp ;#13; 
 SUBSCRIBE to CGMeetup for more inspiring content! http://bit.ly/Sub2CGMeetup&amp ;#13; Watch More CGI & VFX Animated Short Films: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc6NCp8iAPDa4dBRHY4E5uvuqNcYe8AXX&amp ;#13; VFX Breakdowns, Making of & Behind the Scene: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLc6NCp8iAPDYMZcYBcEBQRoGidvdi0iPN 
 
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 WANT TO GET FEATURED?
 All CGI artists, studios or schools who would like their work featured or
 published on CGMeetup please apply below. We’re looking for short films, commercial spots, breakdowns, showreels etc.
 Submit here → https://www.cgmeetup.com/gallery&amp ;#13; Contact us here → info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
 
 Please Note: All videos are uploaded after written copyright permission from respected Artists, Studios or Schools Or part of the Creative Commons license.
 https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/legalcode&amp ;#13; For more details or to dispute please contact us at info@cgmeetup.com or info@cgmeetup.net
 
 ABOUT CGMeetup:
 CGMeetup is the #1 inspiration resource for all CGI, VFX, 3D and Digital artists. We feature a wide variety of CGI content including behind-the-
 scenes, vfx breakdowns, short films & showreels.
 
 CGMeetup also serves as networking resource for CGI Professionals.
 Professionals use CGMeetup to exchange ideas, knowledge & job
 opportunities.
 
 CGI Animated Short Film: "Nodoubt" by Lin Lin | CGMeetup 
 https://youtu.be/HgQwWdgknqg&amp ;#13; 
 CGMeetup
 https://www.youtube.com/CGMeetup 
 
 #animation #animated #3d #cgi #shortfilm #short #animatedshortfilm
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  • The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE

    Breakdown & Showreels

    The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE

    By Vincent Frei - 13/06/2025

    From the icy surroundings of Jackson to the fortified stadium in Seattle… RISE brings unforgettable visuals to The Last of Us Season 2 — including one pivotal moment that fans will be talking about for years!
    WANT TO KNOW MORE?RISE: Dedicated page about The Last of Us – Season 2 on RISE website.Alex Wang & Fiona Campbell Westgate: Here’s my interview of Alex Wang& Fiona Campbell Westgate.
    © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025
    #last #season #vfx #breakdown #rise
    The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE
    Breakdown & Showreels The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE By Vincent Frei - 13/06/2025 From the icy surroundings of Jackson to the fortified stadium in Seattle… RISE brings unforgettable visuals to The Last of Us Season 2 — including one pivotal moment that fans will be talking about for years! WANT TO KNOW MORE?RISE: Dedicated page about The Last of Us – Season 2 on RISE website.Alex Wang & Fiona Campbell Westgate: Here’s my interview of Alex Wang& Fiona Campbell Westgate. © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025 #last #season #vfx #breakdown #rise
    WWW.ARTOFVFX.COM
    The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE
    Breakdown & Showreels The Last of Us – Season 2: VFX Breakdown by RISE By Vincent Frei - 13/06/2025 From the icy surroundings of Jackson to the fortified stadium in Seattle… RISE brings unforgettable visuals to The Last of Us Season 2 — including one pivotal moment that fans will be talking about for years! WANT TO KNOW MORE?RISE: Dedicated page about The Last of Us – Season 2 on RISE website.Alex Wang & Fiona Campbell Westgate: Here’s my interview of Alex Wang (Production VFX Supervisor) & Fiona Campbell Westgate (Production VFX Producer). © Vincent Frei – The Art of VFX – 2025
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  • Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism

    Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th!
    Behind the term “paper architecture” hides a strange paradox: the radical act of building without, well, building. Paper architecture is usually associated with speculative design projects, presented in the form of drawings, which can also be considered art pieces. However, even though it is often dismissed as a mere utopian or academic exercise, paper architecture has historically served as a powerful form of protest, advocating against political regimes, architectural orthodoxy or cultural stagnation.
    Unbound by real-world limitations such as materials, regulations and budgets, paper architects are free to focus on the messages behind their designs rather than constantly striving for their implementation. In parallel, due to its subtleness, paper architecture has become a platform that enables radical commentary via a rather “safe” medium. Instead of relying on more traditional forms of protestthis powerful visual language, combined with scrupulous aesthetics and imagination can start a more formidable “behind-the-scenes rebellion”.
    Unearthing Nostalgia by Bruno Xavier & Michelle Ashley Ovanessians, A+ Vision Awards, 2023
    Perhaps the most well-known paper architects, Archigram was a radical British collective that was formed in the 1960s in London. Their work Walking City or Plug-In City showcased visions of a playful, technologically driven architecture that deeply contrasted and, by extent, protested against the rigid regime of post-war modernism and its extensive bureaucracy. This pop-art-style architecture served as a powerful critique towards the saturated idea of functional monotony.
    Additionally, the Russian architect, artist, and curator, Yuri Avvakumuv introduced the term “paper architecture” within the restrictive cultural and political climate of late Soviet Russia. Having to deal with heavy censorship, Avvakumuv turned to competitions and speculative drawings in an attempt resist that dominance of totalitarian architecture. Poetic, deeply allegorical and oftentimes ironic architectural renderings, critiqued the bureaucratic sterility of Soviet planning and the state-mandated architectural principles architects had to follow. Consequently, this profound demonstration of un-built architecture within the specific setting, turned into a collective cultural wave that advocated artistic autonomy and expression for the built environment.
    Klothos’ Loom of Memories by Ioana Alexandra Enache, A+ Vision Awards, 2023
    The Amerian architect Lebbeus Woods was also one of the most intellectually intense practitioners of paper architecture, whose work touches upon global issues on war zones and urban trauma. His imaginative, post-apocalyptic cities opened up discussions for rebuilding after destruction. Works such as War and Architecture and Underground Berlin, albeit “dystopic”, acted as moral propositions, exploring potential reconstructions that would “heal” these cities. Through his drawings, he rigorously investigated and examined scenarios of ethical rebuilding, refusing to comply to the principles of popular commerce, and instead creating a new architectural practice of political resistance.
    Finally, operating within a very male-dominated world, Zaha Hadid’s earlier work — particularly on Malevich — served as a protesting tool on multiple levels. Influenced by Suprematist aesthetics, her bold, dynamic compositions stood against the formal conservatism of architectural ideas, where the design must always yield to gravity and function. In parallel, her considerable influence and dominance on the field challenged long-standing norms and served as a powerful counter-narrative against the gender biases that sidelined women in design. Ultimately, her images – part blueprints, part paintings – not only proved that architecture could be unapologetically visionary and abstract but also that materializing it is not as impossible as one would think.My Bedroom by Daniel Wing-Hou Ho, A+ Vision Awards, 2023
    Even though paper architecture began as a medium of rebellion against architectural convention in the mid-20th century, it remains, until today, a vital tool for activism and social justice. Operating in the digital age, social media and digital platforms have amplified its reach, also having given it different visual forms such as digital collages, speculative renders, gifs, reels and interactive visual narratives. What was once a flyer, a journal or a newspaper extract, can now be found in open-source repositories, standing against authoritarianism, climate inaction, political violence and systemic inequality.
    Groups such as Forensic Architecture carry out multidisciplinary research, investigating cases of state violence and violations of human rights through rigorous mapping and speculative visualization. Additionally, competitions such as the eVolo Skyscraper or platforms like ArchOutLoud and Design Earth offer opportunities and space for architects to tackle environmental concerns and dramatize the urgency of inaction. Imaginative floating habitats, food cities, biodegradable megastructures etc. instigate debates and conversations through the form of environmental storytelling.
    The Stamper Battery by By William du Toit, A+ Vision Awards, 2023
    Despite being often condemned as “unbuildable”, “impractical” or even “escapist,” paper architecture acts as a counterweight to the discipline’s increasing instrumentalization as merely a functional or commercial enterprise. In architecture schools it is used as a prompt for “thinking differently” and a tool for “critiquing without compromise”. Above all however, paper architecture matters because it keeps architecture ethically alive. It reminds architects to ask the uncomfortable questions: how should we design for environmental sustainability, migrancy or social equality, instead of focusing on profit, convenience and spectacle? Similar to a moral compass or speculative mirror, unbuilt visions can trigger political, social and environmental turns that reshape not just how we build, but why we build at all.
    Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th!
    Featured Image: Into the Void: Fragmented Time, Space, Memory, and Decay in Hiroshima by Victoria Wong, A+ Vision Awards 2023
    The post Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism appeared first on Journal.
    #paper #architecture #soviet #subversion #zahas
    Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism
    Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th! Behind the term “paper architecture” hides a strange paradox: the radical act of building without, well, building. Paper architecture is usually associated with speculative design projects, presented in the form of drawings, which can also be considered art pieces. However, even though it is often dismissed as a mere utopian or academic exercise, paper architecture has historically served as a powerful form of protest, advocating against political regimes, architectural orthodoxy or cultural stagnation. Unbound by real-world limitations such as materials, regulations and budgets, paper architects are free to focus on the messages behind their designs rather than constantly striving for their implementation. In parallel, due to its subtleness, paper architecture has become a platform that enables radical commentary via a rather “safe” medium. Instead of relying on more traditional forms of protestthis powerful visual language, combined with scrupulous aesthetics and imagination can start a more formidable “behind-the-scenes rebellion”. Unearthing Nostalgia by Bruno Xavier & Michelle Ashley Ovanessians, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Perhaps the most well-known paper architects, Archigram was a radical British collective that was formed in the 1960s in London. Their work Walking City or Plug-In City showcased visions of a playful, technologically driven architecture that deeply contrasted and, by extent, protested against the rigid regime of post-war modernism and its extensive bureaucracy. This pop-art-style architecture served as a powerful critique towards the saturated idea of functional monotony. Additionally, the Russian architect, artist, and curator, Yuri Avvakumuv introduced the term “paper architecture” within the restrictive cultural and political climate of late Soviet Russia. Having to deal with heavy censorship, Avvakumuv turned to competitions and speculative drawings in an attempt resist that dominance of totalitarian architecture. Poetic, deeply allegorical and oftentimes ironic architectural renderings, critiqued the bureaucratic sterility of Soviet planning and the state-mandated architectural principles architects had to follow. Consequently, this profound demonstration of un-built architecture within the specific setting, turned into a collective cultural wave that advocated artistic autonomy and expression for the built environment. Klothos’ Loom of Memories by Ioana Alexandra Enache, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 The Amerian architect Lebbeus Woods was also one of the most intellectually intense practitioners of paper architecture, whose work touches upon global issues on war zones and urban trauma. His imaginative, post-apocalyptic cities opened up discussions for rebuilding after destruction. Works such as War and Architecture and Underground Berlin, albeit “dystopic”, acted as moral propositions, exploring potential reconstructions that would “heal” these cities. Through his drawings, he rigorously investigated and examined scenarios of ethical rebuilding, refusing to comply to the principles of popular commerce, and instead creating a new architectural practice of political resistance. Finally, operating within a very male-dominated world, Zaha Hadid’s earlier work — particularly on Malevich — served as a protesting tool on multiple levels. Influenced by Suprematist aesthetics, her bold, dynamic compositions stood against the formal conservatism of architectural ideas, where the design must always yield to gravity and function. In parallel, her considerable influence and dominance on the field challenged long-standing norms and served as a powerful counter-narrative against the gender biases that sidelined women in design. Ultimately, her images – part blueprints, part paintings – not only proved that architecture could be unapologetically visionary and abstract but also that materializing it is not as impossible as one would think.My Bedroom by Daniel Wing-Hou Ho, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Even though paper architecture began as a medium of rebellion against architectural convention in the mid-20th century, it remains, until today, a vital tool for activism and social justice. Operating in the digital age, social media and digital platforms have amplified its reach, also having given it different visual forms such as digital collages, speculative renders, gifs, reels and interactive visual narratives. What was once a flyer, a journal or a newspaper extract, can now be found in open-source repositories, standing against authoritarianism, climate inaction, political violence and systemic inequality. Groups such as Forensic Architecture carry out multidisciplinary research, investigating cases of state violence and violations of human rights through rigorous mapping and speculative visualization. Additionally, competitions such as the eVolo Skyscraper or platforms like ArchOutLoud and Design Earth offer opportunities and space for architects to tackle environmental concerns and dramatize the urgency of inaction. Imaginative floating habitats, food cities, biodegradable megastructures etc. instigate debates and conversations through the form of environmental storytelling. The Stamper Battery by By William du Toit, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Despite being often condemned as “unbuildable”, “impractical” or even “escapist,” paper architecture acts as a counterweight to the discipline’s increasing instrumentalization as merely a functional or commercial enterprise. In architecture schools it is used as a prompt for “thinking differently” and a tool for “critiquing without compromise”. Above all however, paper architecture matters because it keeps architecture ethically alive. It reminds architects to ask the uncomfortable questions: how should we design for environmental sustainability, migrancy or social equality, instead of focusing on profit, convenience and spectacle? Similar to a moral compass or speculative mirror, unbuilt visions can trigger political, social and environmental turns that reshape not just how we build, but why we build at all. Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th! Featured Image: Into the Void: Fragmented Time, Space, Memory, and Decay in Hiroshima by Victoria Wong, A+ Vision Awards 2023 The post Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism appeared first on Journal. #paper #architecture #soviet #subversion #zahas
    ARCHITIZER.COM
    Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism
    Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th! Behind the term “paper architecture” hides a strange paradox: the radical act of building without, well, building. Paper architecture is usually associated with speculative design projects, presented in the form of drawings, which can also be considered art pieces. However, even though it is often dismissed as a mere utopian or academic exercise, paper architecture has historically served as a powerful form of protest, advocating against political regimes, architectural orthodoxy or cultural stagnation. Unbound by real-world limitations such as materials, regulations and budgets, paper architects are free to focus on the messages behind their designs rather than constantly striving for their implementation. In parallel, due to its subtleness, paper architecture has become a platform that enables radical commentary via a rather “safe” medium. Instead of relying on more traditional forms of protest (such as strikes or marches) this powerful visual language, combined with scrupulous aesthetics and imagination can start a more formidable “behind-the-scenes rebellion”. Unearthing Nostalgia by Bruno Xavier & Michelle Ashley Ovanessians, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Perhaps the most well-known paper architects, Archigram was a radical British collective that was formed in the 1960s in London. Their work Walking City or Plug-In City showcased visions of a playful, technologically driven architecture that deeply contrasted and, by extent, protested against the rigid regime of post-war modernism and its extensive bureaucracy. This pop-art-style architecture served as a powerful critique towards the saturated idea of functional monotony. Additionally, the Russian architect, artist, and curator, Yuri Avvakumuv introduced the term “paper architecture” within the restrictive cultural and political climate of late Soviet Russia (1984). Having to deal with heavy censorship, Avvakumuv turned to competitions and speculative drawings in an attempt resist that dominance of totalitarian architecture. Poetic, deeply allegorical and oftentimes ironic architectural renderings, critiqued the bureaucratic sterility of Soviet planning and the state-mandated architectural principles architects had to follow. Consequently, this profound demonstration of un-built architecture within the specific setting, turned into a collective cultural wave that advocated artistic autonomy and expression for the built environment. Klothos’ Loom of Memories by Ioana Alexandra Enache, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 The Amerian architect Lebbeus Woods was also one of the most intellectually intense practitioners of paper architecture, whose work touches upon global issues on war zones and urban trauma. His imaginative, post-apocalyptic cities opened up discussions for rebuilding after destruction. Works such as War and Architecture and Underground Berlin, albeit “dystopic”, acted as moral propositions, exploring potential reconstructions that would “heal” these cities. Through his drawings, he rigorously investigated and examined scenarios of ethical rebuilding, refusing to comply to the principles of popular commerce, and instead creating a new architectural practice of political resistance. Finally, operating within a very male-dominated world, Zaha Hadid’s earlier work — particularly on Malevich — served as a protesting tool on multiple levels. Influenced by Suprematist aesthetics, her bold, dynamic compositions stood against the formal conservatism of architectural ideas, where the design must always yield to gravity and function. In parallel, her considerable influence and dominance on the field challenged long-standing norms and served as a powerful counter-narrative against the gender biases that sidelined women in design. Ultimately, her images – part blueprints, part paintings – not only proved that architecture could be unapologetically visionary and abstract but also that materializing it is not as impossible as one would think. (Your) My Bedroom by Daniel Wing-Hou Ho, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Even though paper architecture began as a medium of rebellion against architectural convention in the mid-20th century, it remains, until today, a vital tool for activism and social justice. Operating in the digital age, social media and digital platforms have amplified its reach, also having given it different visual forms such as digital collages, speculative renders, gifs, reels and interactive visual narratives. What was once a flyer, a journal or a newspaper extract, can now be found in open-source repositories, standing against authoritarianism, climate inaction, political violence and systemic inequality. Groups such as Forensic Architecture (Goldsmiths, University of London)  carry out multidisciplinary research, investigating cases of state violence and violations of human rights through rigorous mapping and speculative visualization. Additionally, competitions such as the eVolo Skyscraper or platforms like ArchOutLoud and Design Earth offer opportunities and space for architects to tackle environmental concerns and dramatize the urgency of inaction. Imaginative floating habitats, food cities, biodegradable megastructures etc. instigate debates and conversations through the form of environmental storytelling. The Stamper Battery by By William du Toit, A+ Vision Awards, 2023 Despite being often condemned as “unbuildable”, “impractical” or even “escapist,” paper architecture acts as a counterweight to the discipline’s increasing instrumentalization as merely a functional or commercial enterprise. In architecture schools it is used as a prompt for “thinking differently” and a tool for “critiquing without compromise”. Above all however, paper architecture matters because it keeps architecture ethically alive. It reminds architects to ask the uncomfortable questions: how should we design for environmental sustainability, migrancy or social equality, instead of focusing on profit, convenience and spectacle? Similar to a moral compass or speculative mirror, unbuilt visions can trigger political, social and environmental turns that reshape not just how we build, but why we build at all. Architizer’s Vision Awards are back! The global awards program honors the world’s best architectural concepts, ideas and imagery. Submit your work ahead of the Final Entry Deadline on July 11th! Featured Image: Into the Void: Fragmented Time, Space, Memory, and Decay in Hiroshima by Victoria Wong, A+ Vision Awards 2023 The post Paper Architecture: From Soviet Subversion to Zaha’s Suprematism appeared first on Journal.
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