Taro Igarashi | Architectural Walk 09: Looking Back at the Venice Architecture Biennale
Architect Taro Igarashi reflects on the history and evolution of the Japanese Pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, from the Arata Isozaki era to 2025.Summary
Architect Taro Igarashi reviews the history and evolution of the Venice Architecture Biennale, particularly focusing on the Japanese Pavilion, where he has been deeply involved as a commissioner and exhibitor. The Architecture section was established in 1980, initially reflecting a postmodern emphasis on historical reference. Japan officially participated in 1991, but its distinct presence emerged in 1996 under Commissioner Arata Isozaki, winning the Golden Lion for the exhibition "Tears" (Kiretsu), which recreated ruins from the Great Hanshin Earthquake. The Isozaki era often featured themes suggesting the "deconstruction of architecture." In 2006, Terunobu Fujimori became commissioner, resulting in an exhibition perceived as a "solo show" that, despite deviating from the main theme, boosted Fujimori's international recognition. Igarashi notes that the Japanese Pavilion often diverges from the main Biennale theme due to scheduling constraints. Igarashi himself served as commissioner in 2008, promoting a narrative shift from Isozaki's "end of architecture" to the "beginning of architecture" with Junya Ishigami's work. The 2010 edition, curated by Kazuyo Sejima, marked a high point for Japanese architects' presence. Subsequent years saw themes focusing on social relevance (2016) and collective work (2023). The 2025 edition, themed "Intelligence—Nature, Artifice, and Collective," was massive, covering adaptation to climate change with topics like AI and recycling; Igarashi praises the Japanese Pavilion for offering a distinct, contemporary art-like inquiry amidst the overwhelming volume of ideas.
(Source：artscape)