5. FEBRUARY 2009

In his lecture at the Städelschule Nikolaus Hirsch contributes to the discussion pavilions in light of some of his most recent projects. Referring to "Exquisite Corpse", a growing institutional model for the European Kunsthalle (Showroom London, 2008), and the "Cybermohalla Hub" at Manifesta 7 (Bolzano, 2008), he questions the relationship between stable and unstable spatial configurations
Nikolaus Hirsch is a Frankfurt-based architect and guest professor at Städelschule who has hold academic positions at the Architectural Association in London, at the Institute of Applied Theater Studies at Giessen University, and at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. His work includes the award-winning Dresden Synagogue, the Hinzert Document Center, and numerous exhibition architectures such as “Making Things Public” at the ZKM (curated by Bruno Latour and Peter Weibel), “Frequencies-Hz” at Schirn Kunsthalle and "Indian Highway" (Serpentine Gallery, 2008). Hirsch´s ongoing research in institutional models has resulted in projects such as the Bockenheimer Depot Theater (with William Forsythe), Unitednationsplaza in Berlin (with Anton Vidokle), European Kunsthalle, Cybermohalla Hub in Delhi and currently a studio structure for Rirkrit Tiravanija´s “The Land”.

His work has been shown in “Neue Welt” (Frankfurter Kunstverein, 2001), “Utopia Station“ at the Venice Biennial 2003, “Can Buildings Curate” (Architectural Association London / Storefront Gallery, New York, 2005), Thomas Bayrle´s “40 Years Chinese Rock 'n Roll” (MMK Frankfurt, 2006), "Horn Please" (Kunstmuseum Bern, 2007), and Manifesta 7 in Bolzano. Nikolaus Hirsch has curated „ErsatzStadt: Representations of the Urban“ at Volksbühne Berlin and is a member of the „Curating Architecture“ program at Goldsmiths College in London. Recently he has published „On Boundaries“ (Sternberg Press), a collection of texts that focuses on the relationship between architectural, artistic and curatorial models.