World Premier of International Venice Architecture Biennale artist Philip Beesley’s  Hylozoic Series: Vesica to open at City Gallery Wellington

Canadian based interdisciplinary artist Philip Beesley will premier his new work Vesica in the  Hirschfeld Gallery from April 19- June 4 2012.

Vesica forms the newest exploration of Beesley’s Hylozoic Series which is concerned with experimental architecture exploring qualities of contemporary wilderness.

“Entering one of Philip Beesley’s installations is like walking into an artificial forest or passing through some kind of living, breathing creature” says Lily Hacking, Hirschfeld Gallery curator. 

Constructed from an intricate web of transparent acrylic links and thousands of digitally fabricated interactive components fitted with sensors and microprocessors, the environment responds to human presence, retracting and contracting in an ongoing series of reactions and counter-reactions.

Hacking continues “The name Vesica references the art historical tradition of identifying holy figures by surrounding them within a luminous field or aura.”

“This project builds upon the interdisciplinary work of the PBAI ( Philip Beesley Architecture Inc) combining innovative research across architecture, design, engineering and sculpture,’’ says Simon Fraser, Head of the School of Design at Victoria University of Wellington

Philip Beesley will be in New Zealand as the keynote speaker for the 7th annual The DeSForM (Design Semantics Form and Movement) 2012 Conference: Meaning Matter Making which is  hosted by the VUW School of Design.

“Beesley’s work is widely considered to be pioneering in the rapidly expanding technology of responsive architecture, spanning a diverse range of expressive media, from architecture to sculpture and installation. We are very privileged to have an artist of such international standing premiering his work at the Hirschfeld Gallery” explains Ms Hacking.

Philip  Beesly is  Professor in the School of Architecture, University of Waterloo and is principal of the Toronto design collective PBAI.

Image:  Philip Beesley 'Hylozoic Series', Mexico City, 2010.

Philip Beesley and the Vesica installation have been brought to Wellington as part of the 2012 DeSForM Conference: Meaning Matter Making, hosted by Victoria University of Wellington School of Design.  DeSForM 2012 will celebrate and explore the many exciting developments within New Zealand’s emerging digital creative sector, with a series of academic presentations, keynote speeches, and a one-day professional programme.

The exhibition aligns strongly with the City of Wellington's 2040 initiative, which addresses fundamental questions of future living and city making in the 21st century. As Simon Fraser notes, “Beesley’s work is arguably the most tangible contemporary demonstration of what this future might be and eloquently demonstrates the potential of Wellington’s emerging world class digital fabrication and 3D printing culture.”  http://desform2012.schoolofdesign.ac.nz/

The Hirschfeld Gallery is Wellington’s space dedicated to exhibiting work by Wellington-based artists and designers. This is the first time the work of an international artist has been exhibited in this space.  Beesley’s work is however in keeping with the Hirschfeld Gallery focus on current work and art forms including painting, sculpture and photography, mixed media, video, architecture, fashion design, furniture design, jewellery and graphic design. Students from Victoria University School of Design will be involved in the construction and installation of this work, and this exhibition will look to engage with Wellington’s colourful and growing community of technology developers, software specialists, game and interface designers, film makers and special effects researchers, and pioneers in digital design, fabrication and distribution.