After breaking boundaries with the eponymous Pearl Lam Gallery by curating and showcasing contemporary Chinese art for the Chinese and the West, Pearl Lam is not taking the podcast world by storm. In Pearl Lam’s Podcast’s fourth episode, the art world wonder interviewed British architect Thomas Heatherwick. The conversation runs through Thomas’ architectural creations, new projects, the problems of old architectural manifestos, his concept of ‘boring buildings,’ the psychological effect of such buildings, and his new book Humanise: A Maker’s Guide to Building Our World.
However, the podcast interview between the international gallerist Pearl Lam and CBE and RDI awardee Thomas Heatherwick has been intriguing for the discussion on how art and architecture are combined. There is a fundamental need to have a synergy between the two; otherwise, modern architecture will fail humankind and negatively impact their psychology. It won’t be far-fetched to state that Pearl Lam’s podcast episode four was sprinkled with pearls of wisdom.
Expert Speaker Pearl Lam Agrees That A Building Is More than Just A Space
In the interview with the host of The Pearl Lam Podcast, Thomas Heatherwick states that most modern buildings are boring and has termed them ‘a century-long global catastrophe’. This is caused by the ‘bland, vague and forgettable’ architecture, which is a ‘global epidemic of inhuman buildings.’ In modern architecture, there has been a style that has a ‘flat glass grid.’ Irrespective of the city one is in, whether it is Dallas, Canberra, Bengaluru, or Nairobi, it’s the same flat building, like an epidemic.
Heatherwick cites neuroscientist Colin Ellard, who said that modern, flat buildings cause ‘autonomic arousal,’ which is a rise in stress level as a response to a perceived threat. The straight-line pattern purported by Le Corbusier has been one of the main reasons for such a fall in the architectural beauty that was there a century ago. Le Corbusier’s concept was further taken ahead with ‘less is more’ by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe and ‘forms follow function’ by Loius Sullivan.
Pearl Lam, however, believes that ‘form follows function,’ which differs from Heatherwick’s idea. However, the owner of Pearl Lam Gallery agrees that the architectural landscape has changed and, despite challenging Heatherwick at times, does approve that buildings need to merge the ethos of architecture with art.
Architecture Needs To Be a Synergy Of Beauty
Like Pearl Lam, the authority on Asian contemporary art and design, who has been challenging the concept of puritanical art, art galleries, and artists, Thomas Heatherwick challenges modern building and architecture. Heatherwick finds most modern buildings and modern architecture soulless. He sees them as singular objects that need to be adorned and thought about before being created.
For instance, Heatherwick’s ‘The Hive’ in Singapore, ‘1,000 Trees’ in Shanghai, and the ‘2012 Olympic Cauldron’ showcase that architecture is a collaborative work. The ‘2012 Olympic Cauldron’ was commissioned by the London Olympics’ artistic director, the famous Danny Boyle. Skilled car bodyworkers did the work under Heatherwick. This can be taken as a prime example of art and architecture forming a synergy.
According to Thomas Heatherwick, the prime reason London Bridge and such centuries-old architecture stand out is the uniqueness of every building. Now, the threshold of a modern building is 40 years, so as architects, thought should be given to how everything is created. The demolition of every building is a cause of extreme greenhouse emissions, so how can one think of making a building that will last beyond this limit? The answer given by both Lam and Heathrwick is simple: create a building that people feel about, something the citizens will stand up for if the council wants to demolish it. The only way to achieve it is by making it artistic and not boring, so let’s measure a building with Heatherwick’s ‘Boring-O-Meter.’
Pearl Lam’s Pearl Of Wisdom
Heatherwick, despite being such a successful architect, is pushing the limits and boundaries of architectural design. He is unafraid to challenge the established norms like expert speaker Pearl Lam.
Despite being an international gallerist, Pearl Lam has taken up the challenge of showcasing how every aspect of life and every work is related to art or inspired by it. It is just the way one sees the various aspects of life and how one perceives it. As an expert speaker and the host of ‘The Pearl Lam Podcast,’ every episode is a reminder of how art is part of our everyday life, from culinary experiences and hair styling to architecture.
It is worthwhile to note how this authority of Asian contemporary art and design uses her voice to establish a conversation and break the barrier between East and West. As the art world wonders, Pearl Lam has often said that art is a soft power that can open up the space for conversation when the world is reeling with partisanship.
