At the heart of the 2019 Chicago Architectural Biennial, in one of the Chicago Cultural Center‘s expansive, light-filled galleries, we worked with exhibition coordinators to supply just over 900 vintage, long-format red bricks for Brussels-based artist Vincent Meessen‘s installation “SIISIS.”
Inspired by the work of ’60s urban-oriented artist collective Situationist International, Meessen’s piece consists of a labyrinth-like arrangement of brick walls that draw viewers into a central room containing an architectural model of an imaginary island city. Delicate drawings of the same subject replicated on clear acrylic punctuate the brick walls. The experimental and surrealist city plan was designed for an uninhabited Greek island currently up for sale; Meessen’s work acts as a thought-provoking proposal for the land to be used and managed by European-bound asylum seekers.
Across the room from Meessen’s installation, work was installed by local artist Theaster Gates — yet another brick lover and artist interested in urbanism, collective endeavors, public dialogue, and social justice. With 2021 upon us, we can’t help but be excited for another year of Chicago’s influential Biennial… and hope to see more artists incorporating brick!
Read more on the artist’s collective website.
Read more about the project on the Biennial’s website.
LOCATION: 78 E Washington St, Chicago, IL 60602
EXHIBITION ON DISPLAY: September 19, 2019 — January 5, 2020
MASON: A Horn Masonry
PRODUCTS SUPPLIED: Red 4x4x16 Stark Brick
