Prof. Mantha Zarmakoupi’s co-curated research station appears at the Biennale Architettura Sneak Peek

Prof. Mantha Zarmakoupi’s co-curated research station with Jennifer Stager (Johns Hopkins) and David Gissen (New School) at the Biennale Architettura 2021 appears at the digital project Biennale Architettura Sneak Peek

These images show possible reconstructions of a stone that was used as a seat at the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, 2000 years ago. Reconstructing this stone is part of our efforts to “restore disability” to the Acropolis and in a few different ways: the stone was used as a place to rest after the tiring climb to the top of the Acropolis. Its restoration offers something that acknowledges the arduousness of the site and that is very different than the emphasis on monumentality in the official reconstructions happening at the site. Additionally, the stone’s only surviving description is from a brief text: at the top of the Acropolis ascent was a prominent artifact “a stone large enough to be used a seat for a small man”. From this description, arises uncertainty over this seat’s form. We want to use this uncertainty to project potential variations that suggest forms of human and material difference. Some of the seats are the size of taller and more polished stones for those who need help sitting down; some stones are wider and rougher for those who cannot see well, among other differences.

See: https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2021/david-gissen-jennifer-stager-and-mantha-zarmakoupi

And: https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2021/biennale-sneak-peek

And https://www.labiennale.org/en/architecture/2021/biennale-sneak-peek/participants