a framework of bamboo poles supports a series of chairs in herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei’s installation
image © designboom

the italian pavilion housed a number of projects by international creatives, including the installation ‘mock up, beijing’ by swiss architects herzog & de meuron and chinese artist ai weiwei. during the opening days of the biennale, the installation was a work in progress, allowing visitors to watch the construction of the bamboo framework which was completed by traditional builder.

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 2a framework of bamboo poles supports a series of chairs in herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei‘s installation image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 3 image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 4 a chair sits high upon the bamboo structure image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 5 a small bamboo stool waits its turn to be included in the structure image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 6 construction detail of the bamboo framework with chairs attached image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 7 image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 8 bamboo chairs are placed along the framework of bamboo poles image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 9 overall view of progress being made image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 10 the grand entrance leading into the exhibition image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 11 image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 12 the grand entrance hall was wallpapered in a dense neon graphic print titled ”vorwand (pretext)’ by german architect jürgen meyer

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 13 the completed installation image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 14 image © designboom

venice architecture biennale 08: herzog & de meuron and ai weiwei - 15

featured here: jacques herzog, ai weiwei and pierre de meuron in front of their ‘bird’s nest’
photocredit: http://www.herzogdemeuron-film.com

once again, for this massive, evolving installation the architects herzog & de meuron have been working closely with artist ai weiwei, the son of two poets who were exiled and made to clean toilets during mao zedong’s cultural revolution. he is one of the chinese government’s most prominent internal critics. their installation is featured in the experimental architecture section of the italian pavilion.

more ai wei wei: http://www.aiweiwei.com venice architecture biennale: http://www.labiennale.org