Remembering The Glorious Conceptual Extravagance Of Zaha Hadid

“There was, on occasion, an unwarranted backlash against the conceptual extravagance of Hadid’s practice and force of her personality that continued unabated throughout her life, but many of her relentless critics and detractors missed the essence of the work: a celebration of nature mated to technology, an all-encompassing way of life as lived by Zaha herself—an ascetic aesthetic, a rare notion in such a materially obsessed world.”

Can China Pull Off The Bilbao Effect In Harbin?

“It’s only May, but the international architectural press has already highlighted the Harbin Opera House, designed by the bad-boy architect Ma Yansong, as one of the year’s most interesting new buildings. … While cultural (and financial) capital becomes ever more concentrated, the dream of creative rebirth can be a seductive Pied Piper for administrators of languishing cities. After all, if every reader of design websites knows where Harbin is, then a full-throated recovery can’t be far off, right?”

Top Posts From AJBlogs 05.31.16

Hard Times at NYC Museums: National Academy Homeless (with video); Staffing Cuts at the Metropolitan Museum, Brooklyn Museum, MoMA
Unlike the 2008 meltdown, there’s currently no major economic recession in the U.S. to blame for the recent epidemic of belt-tightening by three major New York City art museums – the Metropolitan Museum, Museum of Modern Art, … read more
AJBlog: CultureGrrl Published 2016-05-31

The Milt Jackson Quartet, Then And Then
A video of The Modern Jazz Quartet has been getting wide viewership on the internet. The YouTube presentation does not disclose that the group we see and hear is the MJQ’s predecessor, the rhythm section … read more
AJBlog: RiffTides Published 2016-05-31

Instead of Alexander Nevsky
For every screening with live orchestra of Sergei Eisenstein’s Alexander Nevsky (music by Prokofiev), there should be at least a dozen screenings with live orchestra of Paul Strand’s Redes (music by Silvestre Revueltas). … read more
AJBlog: Unanswered Question Published 2016-05-31

Making Friends
It has been over a year since I found an excuse to write about Nala (our dog). The time to do so again has come. … read more
AJBlog: Engaging Matters Published 2016-05-31

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