Invent the Future with Elements of the Past

At the 2014 International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, Hans Ulrich Obrist, curator of the Swiss pavilion, realised a display and a series of events referring to Lucius Burckhardt (1925-2003), an eminent Swiss sociologist and urbanist. In the 1980s, Burckhardt had proposed the concept of a science of Strollology, based on his view that only by strolling we truly perceive our environment. Burckhardt, a pioneer of modern urbanism, also re-defined architecture as “orbiting around man, space, and achievement”. Twelve Swiss artists were commissioned to explore the exhibit in Venice and to develop the art project Invent the Future with Elements of the Past in Zürich, for which Burckhardt once again proved inspirational. They strolled searching for the narrative of urban design, thus offering an artistic interpretation of Burckhardt’s ideas and theories. This new book documents the project, featuring original contributions, inserts, texts, images, and interviews by the participating artists. Text in English and German.