More than a quarter of a million people worldwide have experienced Australia’s outstanding 3D exhibition, Now and When: Australian Urbanism, following its successful launch at the 2010 Venice Architecture Biennale.
Ending its post-Venice tour in India at the end of this month after visiting Australia, Seoul, Beijing, Kaohsiung, Hong Kong and Jakarta since March 2011, Now and When explored the challenges facing our cities, engaging in timely issues that included sustainability, urban sprawl and density and attracted over 270,000 visitors.
Australian Foreign Minister Bob Carr officially launched the final leg of the tour in Delhi on 21 January as part of Oz Fest, Australia’s biggest cultural festival in India, where it is being presented in partnership with the India Design Forum.
‘The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, through the Australia International Cultural Council, together with the Australian Institute of Architects, has supported the tour of Now and When to the Republic of Korea, China, Indonesia and India.
‘The exhibition showcases Australia’s expertise in architecture, design and urban planning. It reminds us of the connections, opportunities and challenges our region shares in the Asian Century.’
Now and When was developed by Co-Creative Directors John Gollings and Ivan Rijavec for the Australian exhibition at the 2010 Biennale, where it was visited by record-breaking crowds of over 93,000 viewers during the three-month international event.
The ‘NOW’ component features aerial views of Australian urban landscapes, including Melbourne, Sydney and Surfers Paradise, contrasted with giant mining pits at Kalgoorlie and Mt Newman by renowned architectural photographer John Gollings. The ‘WHEN’ component, overseen by Ivan Rijavec and produced by FloodSlicer, features a sequence of ideas from 17 architectural collaborations of possible future urban spaces, including floating or submerged cities, or desert spaces.
Now and When is exhibited on a completely new form of 3D stereoscopic technology, which goes beyond the latest cinematic release. Visitors are able to move around these urban scenes and experience the urbanised worlds from different perspectives.
The exhibition also toured to China as part of Beijing Design Week in 2011. Australian Ambassador to China, Ms Frances Adamson, noted that Australia is known for its innovative approaches to design, urbanisation and environmental challenges.
‘We see many Australian architects making their mark on the international design stage, including in China.Now and When takes Australia’s talents a step further, demonstrating that the creative potential of architecture can not only be aesthetically pleasing but can also help to solve the genuine demographic challenges our world faces today,’ Ms Adamson said.
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Notes to the editor
Australia’s representation at the Venice Architecture Biennale is a major project of the Australian Institute of Architects. The Institute has coordinated Australia’s presence at the Venice Architecture Biennale since 2006 and is committed to supporting the event until at least 2016.
The Asian tour of Now and When has been generously supported by the Australian Government through the Australia International Cultural Council, an initiative of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade.
The Australian Institute of Architects is the peak body for the architectural profession, representing 11,500 members across Australia and overseas. The Institute actively works to improve the quality of our built environment by promoting quality, responsible and sustainable design. Learn more about the Institute, log on to www.architecture.com.au.