Lecture date: 2015-03-02
What’s Next Lecture Series
Umberto Bellardi Ricci and Carlos Matos will be talking about their journey from students at the AA through working in London and abroad and currently developing speculative practices in Mexico. They have set up an AA Visiting School in Las Pozas as an experimental concrete workshop set in the Mexican Jungle every August. It’s largely based inside Edward James’ Las Pozas Gardens in Xilitla but also includes travels across Mexico for research purposes.
On the grounds of minimalist sculpture, pre-hispanic monumentalism and geometric abstraction, this year’s workshop was concluded with a number of concrete pieces and fragments that were developed through a thorough study of James’ intricate wooden formworks, defragmenting and collaging molds and casts, experimenting with local aggregates and incorporating contemporary techniques.
The recent exhibition of pieces that were produced in last year’s workshop have been shown in an exhibition in MARSO Galleria in Mexico City and will travel to an exhibition in New York’s Pioneer Works Center for Art and Innovation next year.
Bio: Umberto Bellardi Ricci is Studio Master in the Foundation Course at the Architectural Association and Director of the AA Visiting School in Las Pozas, Mexico. He currently also runs his practice in London, which ranges from residential projects to product design. Prior to completing his Diploma at the AA, he holds degrees in Social Anthropology and International Relations from the School of Oriental and African Studies in London and has worked in various fields such as human rights and journalism. He currently also co-organises the Architecture Exchange, a platform fostering debate between architecture and philosophy.
Carlos H Matos is an architect and artist based in Mexico City. He graduated from the Architectural Association in London and received his Diploma in 2011. He is founder of nomadic architecture practice TZONTL,. After graduating Carlos worked for David Chipperfield Architects in projects in Istanbul and London. He also has experience working for art production institutions such as Media Lab Prado in Madrid, working across a range of projects between installation art and architecture.
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