When the Spanish conquistadors arrived at Tenochtitlán, the helm of the great Aztec empire, they described it as the Venice of the New World; such was its beauty.
Inspired by and recreating that beauty this summer is Mexican architect Frida Escobedo with her installation ‘You Know You Cannot See Yourself So Well As By Reflection’, at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
Taking up a large part of the John Madejski Garden, the shimmering installation uses layers of movable platforms which can be adjusted and repurposed depending on the events it is hosting. Simultaneously standing out and sinking into the background, the piece gives the illusion of a floating grid, much like the buoyant capital that would later become Mexico City.
‘The pavilion is an abstraction of this first settlement in the lake,’ Escobedo explains. ‘A mirrored system of platforms that resembles the city and the sheen of the water as it was first described by Cortes’ men.’
A highlight of both the Year of Mexico and the London Design Festival this coming September, the pavilion celebrates the cultural heritage of Mexico in a modern way. The 'Dual Year', a year-long programme run in tandem by the UK and Mexican governments, aims to promote collaboration and ties between the two nations, in both cultural and economic terms.
The pavilion will remain in place until October, once this year's London Design Festival, which will run many of its headlining activities from the historic museum, ends.
The pavilion will remain in place through to September, when the London Design Festival will sweep the capital. Imagery courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
The mirrored system of platforms simultaneously stand out and sink in to their surroundings. Imagery courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Each summer, the John Madejski Garden becomes a hub of activity as sun-seekers enjoy the weather. Imagery courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Inspired by Tenochtitlán, the Aztec city that would evolve into Mexico City, the pavilion resembles the city’s grid and sheen of the water as first described by Spanish conquistador Hernán Cortes. Imagery courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
A render of the installation, prior to its creation. Imagery courtesy of The Victoria and Albert Museum, London
ADDRESS
The Victoria and Albert Museum
Cromwell Road
London
SW7 2RL
-
In a hidden Beverly Hills garden courtyard, fashion, art and architecture meetJohnston Marklee transforms a Beverly Hills storefront into a shared space for the Michael Werner art gallery and fashion institution Mameg, connected through a leafy courtyard
-
Norway's tech supremo reMarkable reveals all about its new reMarkable Paper ProThe reMarkable Paper Pro is the company's first foray into a colour e-ink tablet. We delve into the new device
-
Peggy Guggenheim: ‘My motto was “Buy a picture a day” and I lived up to it’Five years spent at her Sussex country retreat inspired Peggy Guggenheim to reframe her future, kickstarting one of the most thrilling modern-art collections in history
-
‘Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence’ at the V&A is a bold explorationLondon’s V&A presents ‘Tropical Modernism: Architecture and Independence’, a deep dive into 1940s architectural influences within West Africa and India
-
Behind the V&A East Museum’s pleated façadeBehind the new V&A East Museum’s intricate façade is a space for the imagination to unfold
-
Young V&A crafted as a ‘joyful’ space for children and familiesYoung V&A opens in east London promising a ‘joyful’ experience for children of all ages
-
V&A's Tropical Modernism: a vivid look at architecture culture in newly independent GhanaSubtitled ‘Architecture and Power in West Africa’, V&A's 'Tropical Modernism' is a richly historical show at the 2023 Venice Biennale, perfectly aligned with the overarching theme of inclusion and exploration of modernism’s overlooked cultural impact
-
British mosques explored: 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale previewPreviewing the 2021 Venice Architecture Biennale, we catch up with Shahed Saleem, one of the curators at the Applied Arts Pavilion Special Project. Titled ‘Three British Mosques', this exciting collaboration between La Biennale di Venezia and London's Victoria & Albert Museum focuses on adapted mosque spaces in London
-
V&A unveils two new designs for east London cultural hub -
Kengo Kuma's V&A Dundee opens its doors to the public -
V&A pavilion at Venice Architecture Biennale to explore the legacy of Robin Hood Gardens
