TEHRAN – The 4th edition of the biennial art event Patternitechture is currently taking place at the Niavaran Cultural Center in Tehran.
Patternitechture 4, titled “Expanding Boundaries; Where We Stand,” focuses its projects and programs on exploring the world of new patterns. From this perspective, the relationship of patterns to cities, nature, society and people will be examined in the context of today’s world, ISNA reported.
This edition of the event featured 46 works in the form of volumes, installations, paintings and digital art by prominent visual and architectural artists.
Architect, graphic designer and visual artist Mohammad Hassan Forouzanfar is the visual arts manager of the event, which was curated by architect and researcher Ghazal Rafalian and artistic director and architectural designer Bita Shekari.
Designing patterns, whether as a surface treatment or as a logical arrangement, has always engaged both art and science. Moreover, by exploring many of nature’s complexities, we can discover simple or intricate patterns that structure an amazing or sometimes even unexpected product.
A chronological study of Iranian art and architecture reveals numerous valuable examples of the formal, structural and conceptual application and design of patterns. However, for several centuries, the innate skills of Iranian designers have been limited to the repetition and unproductive adaptation of what their predecessors had already developed. Accordingly, they have failed to make efficient and practical use of technological advances to address the matter in a meaningful way. Nevertheless, the study and representation of the formal and conceptual aspects of patterns has remained a priority for Iranian designers.
This dispute is the main driver of an exhibition that examines the application of patterns in the built environment in contemporary Iran. By inviting designers from different backgrounds, the aim is to unravel the multifaceted meanings of patterns and to present the different approaches to them and their possibilities. This event reflects some of the direct and indirect efforts of contemporary Iranian designers who have tried to generate and innovate these patterns and hopes to address the historical evolution of the formal and conceptual development of patterns in Iran. Patternitechture is a review of the ways in which artists, architects and urban planners in Iran interpret patterns and their application in the built environment and seeks to initiate a debate among them.
Patterns are a medium for perceiving and redefining the world. They allow us to make meaningful connections with objects and ideas. A structured, controllable and reproducible connection that shapes our environment and provides a basis for expanding our perceptions and creating new forms. The quest to discover and establish order and control the chaos in that environment is not only an endeavor in the realm of knowledge, but has also been taken up by many artists to create reflections of the world they perceive. By creating abstract worlds, they celebrate this manifest order.
Although we are talking about the extension and repetition of structures, replicable patterns are not doomed to eternal repetition; rather, they possess a highly dynamic and living nature. Like living beings, they are born, grow, mature and finally give way to new patterns. Today, we are witnessing how advanced tools related to artificial intelligence are removing the boundaries of knowledge production and toolmaking in all fields and changing the previous structures of society. Nevertheless, the average user has not clearly defined his relationship with digital tools. We are facing a new generation of knowledge and technology that has redefined our interaction with subjects, and now, with the accelerated emergence of innovative tools, the question arises: how can modern man redefine his relationship with new patterns?
Patternitechture has always been dedicated to exploring patterns that have impacted the built environment, not only providing a space to reflect on the efforts of contemporary designers, but also the opportunity to create new patterns that pave the way to meet the demands of modern man for his living environment. This event invites all enthusiasts and offers the opportunity to exchange ideas and discuss the role of patterns in architecture and art, encouraging participation in this shared quest and creating a unique, inspiring and transformative space.
The Patternitechture project was launched in 2015 at the invitation of Rafalian and in collaboration with a dedicated group of curators and activists from the field of art and architecture. This collaborative effort involved individuals such as Shekari, Sina Mostafavi, Delagah Dadbeh and many other like-minded individuals. The focus of this initiative was to explore and document the concept of patterns or repeating elements that create higher meaning by extending across time and space and influencing the built environment.
Patternitechture strives to become a credible, autonomous hub that promotes interdisciplinary research, creates synergies and provides a platform to identify, uncover, develop and critique patterns in our environment through art and architecture media. Its activities include documentation of existing work, idea generation, intensive discussions, research-based education and exploration of cutting-edge technologies.
Each Patternitechture event follows a structured format consisting of an exhibition and side events. The exhibition part includes a general open call as well as a curated section with special guests. The side events, tailored to the needs of the project, include meetings, roundtable discussions, educational workshops and various related activities.
The 4th edition of Patternitechture runs until Friday, August 16, at Pate Galleries 1 and 2 of the Niavaran Cultural Center in northern Tehran.
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