September 16–October 31, 2021
About Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism 2021
An opportune introspective moment, by General Director Dominique Perrault
Titled CROSSROADS, Building the Resilient City, the 3rd edition of the Seoul Biennale of Architecture and Urbanism, opened to the public on September 16–17, with online ceremonies and talks, via the SBAU’s website and YouTube channel. Due to the ongoing travel restrictions worldwide, the adaptability to develop more and accessible digital content throughout the event is a success. However, while the physical exhibitions end on October 31, 2021, its General Director, the French architect and urban planner Dominique Perrault, identifies several challenges to ensure the future of this kind of international event and asks: "Is the architecture biennial model still relevant?".
Face-to-face meetings and exchanges are undoubtedly an important part of the appeal of these public events where thousands of people meet, exhibit and share their knowledge. Also, these events are not merely trade shows. They provide a panoramic view of the practices of designers, and serve as a source of inspiration that invites us to see in a new light the tools and resources that we possess for improving our living spaces. The impact of the pandemic has probably revealed the limits of globalization and clearly poses challenges to the accessibility of culture that may transform these production models. According to Dominique Perrault, in large-scale events such as biennials, total digitization would be a mistake, but, while they are indispensable, digital tools must also be made more accessible and better adapted, which requires genuine projects, and strategies of communication and mediation.
Creating and mounting works onsite is a second challenge. A collective raising of awareness with regard to the resources of the planet is underway and biennales have a role to play in consciousness raising around these issues. Although the carbon footprint of these ephemeral exhibitions seems considerable, their model must be reimagined. Being rooted locally, the application of eco-design methods and a more sustainable chain of production have become a necessity. Tomorrow, we will have to prioritize shorter more localized production, limit transport, packaging and storing to a maximum and obtain contributions from local enterprises in the setting up of resilient installations.
As per Dominique Perrault, the third major challenge is to end the disposable aspect of biennales. Sustainability, and therefore the relevance of these events, depends on their ability to leave their mark – aim toward which digital efforts contribute – and to extend their thinking and experimentation to include the public before, during and after of the closing of the event. The means must be found to engage spectators durably wherever they may be.
The Seoul Biennale was one of the first architectural events to be produced under these particular conditions. For its General Director, managing a major event from the other side of the world was an exciting challenge, but also a path filled with pitfalls. Dedicated to the theme of the resilient city, this event was a state of the world and a place for experimentation. It was also a time to be resilient, and an opportune moment for introspection, to encourage new systems and new ways of actively reinventing the future of these large gatherings.
Key figures: to be provided by SMG
