The Aesthetics of Prosthetics exhibition is within the framework of Pratt Institute School of Architecture’s 2019 Dean’s Lecture Series and will take place between September 19th and October 17th. 

Curatorial Statement:

Society today is integrating technology to find alternative ways of enhancing our natural capacities. Many contemporary architects, artists and designers work toward integrating virtual tools in the built environment that radically change contemporary aesthetics. This new “intelligence” has folded itself into new forms of expression, therefore redefining aesthetics.

We define prosthetic intelligence as any device or tool that enhances our mental environment as opposed to our physical environment. Here is the simplest everyday example: When at a restaurant with friends, you reach out to your smartphone to do an online search for a reference to further the conversation, you use prosthetic intelligence.

With the “Aesthetics of Prosthetics” Open Call our objective is to gather proposals that can frame the discussion around one or more of these issues:

1) What are the implications in designing (with) “virtually enhanced” objects?

2) How does this “Prosthetic Intelligence” along with newly developed tools/technologies synthesis itself into new aesthetics and how do these devices manifest itself as cultural expressions?

3) What is the new aesthetics created by designing (with) prosthetic devices?

Designers will present unconventional techniques to take on an architectural component that can vary from a building to a wall to a joint. They are expected to experiment with different modes of representation and fabrication. We aim to collect hypotheses and suggestions - imaginative, ironic, practical, visionary - so as to reflect on what methods are defining aesthetics in contemporary architecture.

*The School of Architecture will host a debate with experts in the subject of prosthetic intelligence on the opening day. The debate, moderated by Ferda Kolatan, will introduce the subjects addressed by the exhibition and will be followed up by the opening reception of the exhibition.

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