centre pompidou to host a retrospective exhibition of the work of tadao ando

the centre pompidou is exhibiting a comprehensive retrospective to the celebrated japanese architect tadao ando. the exhibition is an exploration of his creative principles such as use of smooth concrete, simple geometric volumes, and natural components such as light and water. the show exhibits the intensity of the physical experience engendered by tadao ando’s architecture. ‘tadao ando: the challenge’ will be shown at the centre pompidou between october 10 and december 31, 2018.

festival, okinawa, 1984
image by tadao ando

this retrospective looks back at the different periods in the career of tadao ando and sheds light on his decisive achievements. the centre pompidou exhibition will present nearly 50 major projects with 180 drawings, 70 original models and numerous slideshows, all divided between four categories: the basic form of space; the urban challenge; the origins of landscape; the dialogue with history. the central section of the exhibition will feature a major installation: ‘naoshima,’ a work which illustrates the architect’s dialogue with the natural landscapes of naoshima island. his rich and varied achievements are rounded off by graphite drawings, travel notebooks and photographs taken by tadao ando himself, which have never been shown to a european public before.

meditation space, paris, 1995
image by tadao ando

through his design process, tadao ando often explores architecture’s very reason for existing. tadao explains: ‘given that it is used by people, it has close links with the body… architecture should provide a place for mankind’s sense of joy. otherwise our bodies are not attracted to it.‘ 

 
church of light, osaka, 1989
image by mitsuo matsuoka

he further investigates the question of ‘how to make architecture’: ‘by dint of thinking about it, I ended up with the relationship between dimension, height, surface and three-dimensional volumes.‘ and how to integrate light into his designs: ‘what I felt when observing romanesque churches… was that hope resided in light alone. I created the church of light, wondering whether the symbol of the community wasn’t light. architecture also involves creating places for the community. I produce my architecture by asking myself how I can create things that remain forever imprinted on people’s souls.’

koshino house, ashiya-shi, 1984
image by shinkenchiku-sha

rokko housing II, kobe, 1993
image by mitsuo matsuoka

roberto garza sada center, monterrey, mexico 2012
image by shigeo ogawa

poly theater, shanghai, 2014
image by shigeo ogawa

chikatsu asuka historical museum, osaka, 1994
image by shinkenchiku-sha

nariwa museum, takahashi, 1994
image by mitsuo matsuoka

hill of the buddha, sapporo, japan, 2015
image by shigeo ogawa

chichu art museum, naoshima, 2004
image courtesy of tadao ando architect & associates

exhibition curated by frédéric migayrou, deputy director of the musée national d’art moderne centre de création industrielle and yuki yoshikawa, associate curator, with the tadao ando architect & associates agency.