Extra Muros photographic exhibition opens at the National Museum

GASEBALWE SERETSE
Staff Writer | Friday June 18, 2010 00:00

 

French ambassador, Genevieve Iancu, opened the exhibition, which is also called 'Architectures of Delight', on Tuesday and despite the chilly wintry evening many arts enthusiasts turned up to witness this special exhibition.

In their introduction of this exhibition which would most certainly appeal to both lovers of architecture and photography, curators Patrice Goulet and Brigitte Borsdoff declared in a written statement that since the 1950s, it can be hardly claimed that contemporary architecture has captured the enthusiasm, or even the interest, of the general public.

Compared with the past, the present always loses out: a real catastrophe and, apparently, one without any hope of escaping from.

'Architecture seems to have become an unavoidable calamity, irreparably damaging all landscapes and turning towns and cities into unmanageable monsters. The only elements to escape this judgment are the media-favoured gems, like Frank Gehry's Guggenheim museum in Bilbao, which seems to define a future for our 'new monuments' as they become icons of dynamic cities,' the curators said.

Speaking at the occasion, Ambassador Iancu said that architecture has always been a main art sector in France and that Paris, the French capital, is a showcase of French architecture, mixing centenary masterpieces with the most contemporary buildings.

'I am proud to say that France is increasingly involved in the international architectural scene: you probably heard about French architects such as Paul Andreu, who designed the Grande Arche at La Defense in Paris, which has inspired the Arch in Gaborone, by Square Mart and the National Grand Theatre of China in Beijing or Jean Nouvel,' she said.

She further said Extra Muros, Architecture of Delight has been designed with a view to promote cultural diversity, urban culture and artistic exchange between southern Africa and France.

According to Iancu, the exhibition gathers exceptional photographs of master architects' buildings as well as anonymous constructions in France. This original mix constitutes a visual tribute to diversity, freedom, lightness and a certain form of enchantment.

She said that the exhibition has been specifically tailored for a worldwide presentation focusing on architecture in tune with current urban and territorial issues that are relevant throughout the world. Speaking at the same event, Jode Anderson, the president of Architects Association of Botswana (AAB), which is the largest architects association in the country with over a hundred members, said that there was not enough reporting on architecture in the country.

'When I compare architecture in France with building in Botswana, it occurs to me that the French are just a bit spoiled. In France, the media, printed as well as video graphic, debate current projects and trends in architecture; in Botswana, few journalists expend any effort on reporting on architecture. In France as in Botswana, the state itself is one of the most significant project developers,' he pointed out.

Anderson further said that in France the architectural character of what is built for the state is of critical importance, and one will even find the President of the Republic - albeit perhaps more commonly during the later decades of the 20th century - playing an active role in projects. He asserted that in France, when the state decides to undertake significant construction projects, the most common method used for selecting the architect is the design competition, organised in a way that both respects the amount of effort demanded of such iconic work and rewards the winning entrants with fair compensation.

'The end result is a built environment full of variety, substance and beauty, which in itself expresses parts of French culture,' he said.

Extra Muros most certainly shows that France is well ahead of Botswana as far as architecture is concerned and the hope is that local architects would grow and emulate their French counterparts.

As mentioned before, lovers of architecture would find this exhibition appealing and one can only hope that our few architects in the country would visit it for inspiration, which could lead to greater things.

Extra Muros is schedule to tour the southern African countries of Angola, Botswana, South Africa, Swaziland, Lesotho, Namibia and Mozambique this year.