ART APPRECIATION

My artist for the final presentation is Romuald Hazounme. It is a beninese artist. After the colonisation, settlers stole the majority of african art as masks, statue...etc. Hazounme wants to solve that problem, and reimagine masks with materials of his century.  He makes masks with gas can. His practice reinvent what masks are and the way we can see them. He is a source of inspiration to me. For my architecture 121 class, I decide to design a space for him in the cultural center of Chicago. It is space for exhbition, creation and interaction with people. I hope to send that work to Romuald.

The Mask

"If you want to be an architecte, read books and travel" said one important art director.  I tried  to follow that quote that became a "mantra" to me. During my winter  break,  I read the book "Bart Prince, Pragmatism of Architecture" by Christopher Mead. I learnt a lot about the organic architecture of Prince and his style that touches me a lot. Prince's work reminds me the adobe houses in Benin.  His work is simple, and complicated at the same time. It reflects the fusion between buildings and nature. After reading the book, I decided to push the concept up. I sent an email to Prince, and he accepted to receive me in his residence and studio in Albuquerque, New Mexico. As the email said, I met the master of organic architecture "April 17th at Monte Vista North East Boulevard after lunch". We talk a lot about architecture, life, Frank lloyd wright and Bruce Goff; his mentor. Prince is very open and fun. ...