Open Mic Russian Federation Pavilion

For the #RussianFederationPavilion at the #BiennaleArchitettura2020, Lion & Unicorn is creating an application that functions as a chatbot and allows players to take on their roles of different actors involved in the Biennale. Lion & Unicorn has done extensive research on virtual and digital platforms. In light of the current pandemic, we asked them if they see any new potential in them. The collective consists of Pekka Airaxin, Liza Dorrer, Karina Golubenko, Mariia Kachalova, Anton Kalgaev, Maria Kosareva and Ivan Kuryachiy in collaboration with Daria Nasonova and Dima Vesnin.

Illustration by Martin Groch

The podcast series #OpenMic / Work & Social Distancing continues with a contribution by KASA (Kovaleva and Sato Architects), the young Russian/Japanese architecture office that was selected out of an open call launched by the Russian Federation Pavilion a few months ago.

Alexandra Kovaleva and Kei Sato, founders of the studio, talk about how the lockdown has reminded them of the importance for architects to "consider the exterior and the interior equally".

Illustration by Martin Groch

In response to the postponement of the Biennale Architettura 2020 due to the out-break of COVID-19, the Russian Federation Pavilion will launch the online podcast series “Open Mic”, with the aim to kick-start a dialogue on the functions and values of (cultural) institutions.

The first contributions, titled "Work & Social Distancing", will be launched on pavilionrus.com in the next few days, focus on how this pandemic has affected our understanding and expectations of governments, companies, institutions and individuals – their roles and actions, their network of relationships and the array of symbols and aesthetics they draw on.

Illustrations by Martin Groch.

More info on pavilionrus.com