THE HOUSE OF DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS
The words “double consciousness” are used by Lesley Lokko, the curator of the next year’s Venice Biennale in Architecture. She used the words that Du Bois and Fanon used, but before them it was actually the Transcendentalist Ralph Waldo Emerson who used them. First, to even use the word “consciousness” in relation to architecture, today, is not very common. And even less common is to talk about “double consciousness.” What could this “double consciousness” be ? Ms. Lokko refers to the condition of the colonized and marginalized so-called “ minorities,” when in fact they represent a majority. But these two words, if we trace them back to Emerson, refer to the basic, fundamental two realities: NATURE & SPIRIT. In important ways, we neglect both. We de-spiritualized architecture and we estranged ourselves from Nature…and maybe not only from the exterior one. Are we listening, these days, to our soul ? The very word “soul” is avoided too… it is too "old-fashion,” obsolete in its sentimentalism. But sentiments, hopefully, continue to exist. Thus, emotions. Ingmar Bergman said that in the field of emotions we are all illiterates, and we have no reason to think otherwise. Indeed… and also, while continuously invoking Nature, we continue actually our assault on it, with the same vivacity that covered the world with the works of Anthropos, “the measure of all things.” We invite you to imagine THE HOUSE OF DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS. A house there addresses the "here and now," but also the "there and then." NATURE & SPIRIT SPIRIT & NATURE “Alas, two souls are dwelling in my heart” – said Faust. Maybe these “two souls” exist in all of us, but at the most we ascribe their existence to a “bi-polar disorder.” We invite you to imagine the paradigmatic HOUSE OF DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS, and in this sense we invite you to read the statement of Ms. Lesley Lokko, on the website of the Venice Biennale, 2023. Adress TWONESS in the most general and particular ways, simultaneously. Maybe if Goethe was right that a certain “ur-plant” (which had a built-in duality) was the seed from which all other plants sprang, then maybe from THE HOUSE OF DOUBLE CONSCIOUSNESS we can imagine a new beginning for architecture. Let’s try. We hope to convince Ms. Lokko to include our works in the Venice Biennale next year.
SUBMISSION AND PARTICIPATIONAll competitions are free to enter. Donations are greatly appreciated for the competition expenses of the all volunteer organization. SCHEDULENovember 30, 2022 Zoom Dialogue about The House of Double Conciousness BENEFITSEngagement with alternative creators and thinkers in architecture worldwide PRIZESAt the moment, ICARCH does not provide cash prizes nor require entry fees. If you have any questions, please contact us at [email protected]. Thank you. I C A R C H |