Abstract Nature

As part of its biennial exhibition series Baukunst (Architecture), the Kunstverein Bielefeld this year presents the work of Pezo von Ellrichshausen, the renowned Chilean art and architecture practice. The exhibition will be staged in cooperation with the East Westphalia-Lippe section of the Association of German Architects (BDA).

Pezo von Ellrichshausen was founded in the city of Concepción, in the south of Chile in 2002, by Mauricio Pezo and Sofia von Ellrichshausen. The art studio has become well known for its objectual architecture and installations. Its work is located at the frontier between art and architecture, proposing buildings as explicit variations on spatial structures and geometric configurations, but also incorporating magical, dream-like and quite startling elements. The Kunstverein’s presentation of the LUNA project, in particular, serves to highlight Pezo von Ellrichshausen’s focus on the metaphysical significance of architecture. LUNA is a collection of structures that owes its sculptural qualities to its articulation with its surroundings, nestled at the foot of the Andes Mountains.

In 2008, Pezo von Ellrichshausen curated the Chilean pavilion at the Venice Architecture Biennale, also participating in its International Exhibition in 2010 and 2016. The art studio’s projects have been exhibited at the Royal Academy of Arts in London, and form part of the permanent exhibition at both the Art Institute of Chicago and at MoMA in New York. Pezo von Ellrichshausen has taught at universities in Chile and the United States, including Harvard and Cornell, where they hold the position of Associate Professor of the Practice.