Yu Tsukada | Thorough Humanism and Beyond—'Forensic Architecture: Violence at the Threshold of Detectability' (Part 1)
This article introduces the methodology and practice of Forensic Architecture, an investigative body analyzing and presenting state violence.Summary
This is the first part of a review by Yu Tsukada introducing the investigative body 'Forensic Architecture,' which aims to analyze and present acts of violence perpetrated by state power. Composed of architects, artists, and scientists, the group is led by Eyal Weizman. Its methodology follows conventions of 'detective fiction' while engaging with real crises like the Holocaust and the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The introduction uses the David Irving vs. Deborah Lipstadt trial, concerning the existence of gas chambers at Auschwitz, as a key example. The group successfully refuted Irving's claims by constructing an 'overwhelmingly persuasive network of evidence' from architectural drawings and photographs, illustrating the core procedure of Forensic Architecture. The latter part of the article briefly outlines the diverse practical methods the group has employed in the Israeli/Palestinian context, such as ground-penetrating radar and 3D modeling.
(Source：artscape)