chicago architecture biennial: SO-IL + ana prvački's 'l'air pour l’air'

during the opening week of the 2017 chicago architecture biennial, architecture studio SO-IL and artist ana prvački are debuting a musical performance piece titled ‘l’air pour l’air’. as part of the project, which aims to ensure the continued legacy of musicians as the world’s cities grow more polluted, the collaborative design team has created an ensemble of mesh enclosures. each piece has been conceived as part mask, part shelter, and is designed to clean and filter the air through breathing.

SO-IL and ana prvački are debuting a musical performance piece titled ‘l’air pour l’air’
image © iwan baan (also main image)

presented as one of the chicago architecture biennial’s special projects, the four SO-IL-designed enclosures — named ‘flute’ ‘saxophone’ ‘voice’ and ‘trombone’ — will be worn by the respective members of the chicago sinfonietta. through performing an original composition, created by veronika krausas, the musicians will ‘clean the air that produces the music’. ‘the installation and performance encourage its viewers to meditate upon the complex notions such as the relationship between purity and pollution, and the distinctions between self, body, objects, and nature,’ explains the design team.

as part of the project, the design team has created an ensemble of mesh enclosures
image © iwan baan

earlier this year, SO-IL designed a resource-conscious living concept clad with a fabric that could clean itself. ‘it is a translucent PVC mesh so obviously as you layer it, it creates different depths and translucency,’ ilias papageorgiou, principal at SO-IL, told designboom. ‘due to the double turn geometry, the installation features incredible and constantly moving patterns of light and shadow during the daytime. it is a fabric that has the capability to clean itself, and has a coating that filters dirt from the surrounding air.’

each piece has been conceived as part mask, part shelter
image © iwan baan

prior to ‘l’air pour l’air’, SO – IL created ‘passage’ for the inaugural chicago architecture biennial in 2015. the installation, which formed a reflection on the spatial qualities of the ramp, was selected to remain on site, and is currently on view at the chicago cultural center.

the outfits are designed to clean and filter the air through breathing
image © iwan baan

video courtesy of SO-IL

‘flute’

‘saxophone’

‘voice’

‘trombone’

artist ana prvački (left) and SO-IL’s florian idenburg (right)

project info:

team: florian idenburg, jing liu, ilias papageorgiou, seunghyun kang (project lead), anna margit, diandra rendradjaja, yan ma, qionglu lei, sophie nichols, iason houssein
collaborator: ana prvački

the second edition of the chicago architecture biennial (CAB) is the largest architecture and design exhibition in north america, showcasing the transformative global impact of creativity and innovation in these fields. this year’s biennial features over 141 practitioners from more than 20 countries addressing the 2017 theme ‘make new history.’ artistic directors sharon johnston and mark lee have selected architects and artists whose eye-opening creations will invite the public to explore how the latest architecture can and will make new history in places around the world.

CAB is hosted by the chicago department of cultural affairs and special events at the historic chicago cultural center. the ‘make new history’ exhibition extends to off-site locations and is amplified through six community anchor exhibitions in the neighborhoods and two special project sites — plus installations, performances, talks, films, and more hosted by over 100 local and global cultural partners.

the main exhibition is free and open to the public from september 16, 2017 through january 7, 2018.

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