www.quondam.com/23/2231.htm

Re: now look who's reenacting
2002.11.13 15:15

Muschamp's recent review mistakes are clearly demonstrated when one compares (what he said about) the newly designed Boston ICA with the Philadelphia Museum of Art, Rome's Campidoglio, and the Acropolis of Athens. All four are indeed "urban viewing platforms" that also house art institutions--remember there was the ancient "picture gallery" within a side room of the Propylaea. The Boston ICA is simply a more "hi-tech" version of the same "typology". Compare the large exterior video screen of the Boston ICA design with the pediment sculpture group as strong visual display--of course, the display at Boston will be literally a moving image, but both the display at Philadelphia and Boston basically reenact the displays once (in living color) at the Acropolis. As to the "view from the Campidoglio," perhaps that's a book we should read again.

Beyond all the history, isn't it also true that the Boston ICA follows/reenacts a well established pattern of successful tourist destination (designs)?

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