from
Loreto Lyon
Dean of the Faculty of Architecture, Art and Design
US
For decades, art and architecture walked together. From the 60s to the well -entry in the 70s, was common for lArchitectural projects will include artwork as integral part of design. Not as an aggregate, not as a decorative gesture, but as a substantial collaboration from the first sketch.
That fruitful cross among disciplines caused unforgettable works: buildings and infrastructure that not only completed a function and were structurally durable but were also beautiful. And this beauty was, many times, the result of genuine integration with art.
Unctad III and U. de Conceptión
One of the most paradigmatic examples of this cooperation is EdiFOCO UNCTAD III, HOY CENTRO CULTURE GABRIELA MISTRAL (GAM). Conceived as a total work during the Government of Popular Unity, this building involved from the beginning an ambitious artistic integration program led by curator Eduardo Martínez Bonati.
Inks, murals, sculptures, stained glass and textiles were created by renowned artists such as Gracia Barrios (National Implementation for Plastic Arts 2011), José Balmes (National Island for Plastic Arts 1999), Nemesio Antúnez, Roser Bru (National Island for Plastic Arts 2015), Martha Colvin (National Plastic Arts Award 1970), Juan Egenau, Federico Assler (2009 Award Arts) and Sergio Arts) for national arts for national arts), Juan Egenau, Federico Assler (2009 Arts Arts Plastics) and Sergio Castillo Castillo (National Arts of Arts))Among many others, in close dialogue with architects. In Gam, art does not decorate: it is a structural part of space, cultural and political experience of the building. Is a manifesto of what it really means an interdisciplinary cooperation with a public profession.
University of ConceptiónAlso, leaves us a valuable legacy in this regard. His campus is a true outdoor museum, where dialogues of architecture with artwork in a harmonious relationship, designed by origin.
The same thing happened in several private buildings in the city, including in in Frie kinetic of Matilde pérez (Transferred 2010 to the University of Talca). Works such as these are not installed, conceived. They are part of the soul of the building.
An aesthetic and conceptual loss
Today, unfortunately, the practice of integrating art and architecture has lost cooperatively since the beginning of projects. Although there are regulations such as law no. 17,236, which forces to include works of art in public buildings, these are usually tender after the buildings are already built, leaving the process architect. The result is predictable: two dissolved worlds that do not dialogue with each other. One last example is that of the new regional museum of Tarapacá. In that case, the office of architects Max Núñez proposed from the beginning to work with an artist to generate an integrated proposal. However, drivers chose to make a special tender.
Loss is not just aesthetics, it is conceptual. When art and architecture cooperate from the beginning, the experience in space changes deeply. A unique atmosphere is created, a total work – as conceived in Bouhaus or the great masters of modern movement – where each element, from shape, light to materials, from colors to detail such as doors, is created together. Today, on the other hand, it is common that the work of art “hangs” at the end, as a symbolic gesture, with no real influence on architecture.
Contemporary
Fortunately there are contemporary examples that remind us of the value of this integration. it Ceina Cultural Centroremodeling from Latina and Hvh (Sebastián Baraona, Loreto Figueroa and Hernán Vergara) It lies not only for the recovery of the theater, but to consider the inclusion of art from the beginning as part of the project, integrating the artist’s Alma Mater Miguel cosgrove with the same colors seen throughout the project.
Another example is that of The Holy Heart Church on the San Joaquín Catholic University campusdesigned by Teodoro Fernández With an artist’s showcard Eduardo Vilches (National Ishemia for Plastic Arts 2019) and showalist Cecilia Martner On its facade that washed the inner space of a bluish light. This is not just a visual effect, it is a spiritual experience, possible thanks to close cooperation between disciplines.
so Why not integrate art and architecture again? Why not ask, as part of the order, for artists to be considered a more specialty of the design team, as well as structural engineers or lighting specialists? Today, more than ever, our cities need beauty, and that beauty cannot be a last minute addition.
At a time where much Real estate companies add artwork to “Decorate” projects or as marketing strategyIt is worth remembering it True integration is not given to the former post but from the first blow. And when it happens, the project is not only benefited, but also the community that resides it. Because there is no greater contribution to the city than a work created with a public sense and profession.
Let the project work where architecture and art not only coexist, but are based on a single vision. Because of Art is not a decoration: it is a meaning structure.
