Psycho Buildings

Finally made it to the Hayward this weekend at Southbank to see the Psycho Buildings exhibit -- phew, closing in 2 weeks so got there just under the wire. The exhibit has installations from a number of artists showing their take on architecture -- it's all quite fantastical, this is *not* an architecture show, it's an exhibition. I like the Hayward because it's not too big -- you can really take in a show in full, rather than feeling like you're rushing and only skimming by, like in so many massive museums.

There were about 10 - 11 pieces, each taking most of a room, and each taking a different take on space, enclosure, and architecture. My absolute favourite was Do Ho Suh's 'Fallen Star 1/5', which was an amazingly detailed 1/5 recreation of two homes from past (Korean and American) colliding, literally. It was reminscent of Dorthy's house colliding with the new amazing world of Oz. The way the exhibit was arranged, you first came across the piece from the outside -- seeing this simple Korean cottage crashed into the corner of a large New England-style home. And on the inside? Room after room showing the incredible detail from miniature Syracuse and Boston banners and a Rhode Island School of Design sweatshirt, to mini-Metallica posters (must be a boy's room!) And then all the internal destruction that would happen if one home collided with another. It was like a surreal take on the Smithsonian Dollhouse. (Oh, how I looooved to visit that dollhouse. And so wish I could find the book I once had elaborating room-by-room... )

Unfortunately, the Hayward wouldn't allow photos -- so the best I could do was this pic of the shot in the exhibit catalogue (hey -- I liked the show, but not enough to buy the book!)