¡ MAINTENANCE ! [a proposition for future architectures]

ResearchBackground:¡MAINTENANCE! [a proposition for future architectures] was a project commissioned and curated by the Oslo Architecture Triennale 2019 and received funding from the Australian Council for the Arts. The Triennale explored the architecture of a new economy in which human and ecological flourishing matter most – the architecture of degrowth. James’ project was presented in the National Museum of Architecture as part of ‘The Library’ exhibition alongside sixty international creative practitioners. ResearchContribution:¡MAINTENANCE! [a proposition for future architectures] incorporated a collaboration with the contracted cleaner at the National Museum of Architecture. Together he and James collected material found throughout the Museum questioning the roles of labour and value within the context of contemporary cultures and societies. An audio recording was made of James and the cleaner discussing these ideas and that of similarities in both their practices; as an artist and as a cleaner. James then also worked with a glass blower from the Oslo University and a furniture designer, constructing a table and glass vitrines to display their found material. The resulting detritus reassembled within the context of an institution, opens up new relations encountered through its temporal, material and spatial qualities. The work also reflect on a thread of contemporary design practice that investigates the labour involved in research and a focused analysis of physical materials neglected in cultural development. The project extends James’ research practice, contributing new understandings of material engagement with site. ResearchSignificance:Curated into the Oslo Architecture Triennale, James’ project makes a significant international contribution to ideas and conversations explored through the Triennale’s thematic. The Triennale has also been reviewed by Wallpaper and Archdaily magazines, with a curated selection of essays commissioned by e-Flux journal.研究背景：《¡MAINTENANCE!（未来建筑提案）》是由2019年奥斯陆建筑三年展（Oslo Architecture Triennale）委托并策划的项目，获得澳大利亚艺术理事会（Australian Council for the Arts）资助。本届三年展围绕以人类与生态福祉为核心的新经济形态下的建筑实践展开探讨，即去增长（degrowth）建筑。该项目以“图书馆（The Library）”特展单元的形式在国家建筑博物馆（National Museum of Architecture）展出，与六十位国际创意从业者一同亮相。 研究贡献：《¡MAINTENANCE!（未来建筑提案）》与国家建筑博物馆的签约保洁员展开合作。二人共同收集了馆内各处遗存的物料，借此探讨当代文化与社会语境中劳动与价值的角色定位。詹姆斯与该保洁员就相关议题展开对话并录制音频，探讨二者作为艺术家与保洁员的职业实践所存在的共通之处。随后，詹姆斯还与奥斯陆大学的玻璃工艺师及一位家具设计师合作，制作了展台与玻璃展柜（glass vitrines），用于陈列此次收集到的物料。最终在博物馆语境中完成重组的这些遗存物料，依托其时间性、物质性与空间性特质，催生了全新的关联与体验。该作品同时呼应了当代设计实践的一条重要脉络：即探讨研究过程中的劳动投入，并对文化发展中被忽视的实体物料开展聚焦性分析。本项目拓展了詹姆斯的研究实践，为物料与场地的互动研究提供了全新的认知维度。 研究意义：作为奥斯陆建筑三年展的参展项目，詹姆斯的作品为三年展主题所探讨的相关理念与学术对话作出了重要的国际贡献。本届三年展还获得了《Wallpaper》与《Archdaily》杂志的专题报道，同时e-Flux期刊委托策划了一组专题论文。