For the 2019 Shenzhen Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (UABB), titled "Urban Interactions," (21 December 2019-8 March 2020) ArchDaily has been working with the curators of the "Eyes of the City" section to stimulate a discussion on how new technologies might impact architecture and urban life. The contribution below is part of a series of scientific essays selected through the “Eyes of the City” call for papers, launched in preparation of the exhibitions: international scholars were asked to send their reflection in reaction to the statement by the curators Carlo Ratti Associati, Politecnico di Torino and SCUT, which you can read here.
Over the past few months we have heard many bold predictions about the world after COVID-19: the death of the movie theater, the death of the office, perhaps even the death of the city itself. What about architectural exhibitions? As the curators of the 2019-2020 Shenzhen Biennale, which holds the unfortunate distinction of being the first event of its kind to be disrupted by the pandemic, we would like to share our thoughts on the future of architecture Biennales as we wrap up a long editorial series dedicated to the "Eyes of the City."
Before the pandemic, the meaning of Biennales had already been called into question. They began in the 19th century, as part of a broader movement of international exhibitions—most prominently the World’s Fair—that served as venues for celebration and competition among the nations of the industrialized, imperial West. Massive pavilions held encyclopedic collections of the world’s architectural production, with every nation (especially the host) clamoring to display the most splendor and power. 21st-century critics have questioned the logic of expensive, temporary exhibitions when the Internet allows far more accessibility; they have also wondered aloud why we should maintain the celebration of nation-states when the modern world is defined by fluid interconnections.
