The British Pavilion at The Venice Biennale 2014 Explores The Foundations of British Modernism

Earlier this week, curators of the 14th Venice Architecture Biennale FAT Architecture and Crimson Architectural Historians released more details about their work on the British Pavilion. The team’s theme for the exposition is “A Clockwork Jerusalem” which according to them will “explore the diverse cultural influences that shaped and were shaped by British Modernism in the post war era and over the last 100 years.”

According to the Director of Architecture, Design and Fashion at the British Council, Vicky Richardson, “A Clockwork Jerusalem” will create an opportunity for a dialogue and exploration on the “aspects of British modernity” and might even cover beyond the realms of architecture. “As the Venice Biennale evolves into a global research project, we are keen to make a significant contribution to the cultural debate around the past, present and future of UK and global architecture,” Richardson added.

“A Clockwork Jerusalem” is the curators’ response to the overall theme of this year’s Venice Biennale developed by Rem Koolhaas which is “Absorbing Modernity: 1914-2014.” The curators are keen on showing to the public “how a specifically British form of Modernism emerged from a style that combined traditions of the romantic, sublime and pastoral with a fascination and fear of the industrial, technology and science fiction to create new visions of society.”

The curators will exhibit large scale projects produced during the 1950s to 1970s as their point of departure. This will explore how British Modernism flourished and matured, up to the point when it was considered to be politically, socially and architecturally ambitious and trace it to the time that it eventually collapsed. It will be an interesting study that will range from Stonehenge to the establishment of council estates! Not only will “A Clockwork Jerusalem” explore British modernism in the architectural context but it will also involve a wider scope that occurred within the culture, covering records, advertisements and books.