Emre Arolat Architecture (EAA) has set an experimental black box at Lincoln Road in Miami within the scope of event of Young Artist Initiative (YAI) from February 24th February to February 25th 2017. Named Contrasts, EAA's Complements & Dichotomies exhibition itself existed as an experiential art form through its collection of immersive artistic interpretations from a curated group of emerging artists, architects and designers.

''Contrasts is an installation on Islamic Philosophy as a current controversial issue and the ways of its perception riddled with dualities based on a reading of a work of architecture Sancaklar Mosque by EAA - Emre Arolat Architecture,'' said EAA.

''The installation aims to convey this hot topic in a short yet impressive way.'' 

A college from exterior 

''Presented within an environment that is purged from the ''exterior'', our memories invoke an emotional separation that distances us from our everyday; allowing thoughts, desires and imagination to come out to the fore. Such is our tendency; to create a space to contemplate and to reflect.''

The visitors perceive from the exterior it is just a black box reflecting the scenery. In some kind of a way augmenting the artificiality, the box manipulates the depth of the viewer’s perception. Standing just one step away from its side, the manipulation is exaggerated through a deep, dark and blind corridor.. 

Guided by a sleek line of light on the floor, the viewer have glimpses of the ‘inside’ through the small cuts in the wall.. Light streaking through a slit on the opposite, marks the beginning of the contextual story on a large wall.

Corridor

On the inside this is entirely a black box as well. In contrast to all the serenity the space implies, on a small screen the ''today'' of the Islamic culture is on display.. A video that avoids being provocative yet stands at the edge of an in depth examination is presented right there, to let the viewer become aware of the current situation.

On the other end, recast from its context to an abstract edge, Sancaklar Mosque becomes detached from the original surroundings that defined its form. 

Upon entering, a small hole in the wall

Sometimes it is a collage of photos or cutouts from larger images, displayed on a large wall.. Sometimes it is about one’s engagement with the skies, with the light; or with stone, or water on the ground, sometimes with the exposed concrete qiblah wall and mostly with by one’s self through time and space. 

This is an illusion that can only come out via experimenting the architecture itself yet the best is tried to be able to reflect its aesthetics within this black box.

Contextual story on the wall

A selection of images that are enlarged to the size of a person, in an attempt to bring the viewer a very similar experience. Or a fictive creation through collaged textures, edges or details in such a way that maintains the overall feel of its beauty. 

The space lit through cutouts from photographs

The whole story being based on the overlapping relationship between observation and perception; the viewer is invited to become immersed in an up-close inspection of the observed and perceived beauty which derives from an architecture defined solely by its context.

Image enlarged to the size of a person

Image appears on the floor

Image continues to fill the space upwards

Image enlarged to the size of a person

Emre Arolat Architecture's Sancaklar Mosque won WA Awards in the 23rd Cycle, and EAA's Abdullah Gül Presidential Museum and Library in Kayseri, Turkey is set to open to the public in April, which is also a winner of WA Awards in the 23rd Cycle. 

Emre Arolat is Professional Member and Honorary Member of World Architecture Community.

Exhibition facts

Curators: Emre Arolat 

Team: Zeynep Arolat, Ceren Bilgin, Özge Ertoptamış, Eli Eskenazi Bone, Aylin Güllüoğlu, Berke Karadeniz, Eren Lökçe, Gonca Paşolar, Can Tanyeli, Zeynep Uşşaklı, Ege Yüksek 

For their valuable contributions special thanks to: Samuel Eskenazi, Leon Levy, YAI 

All images © EAA 

> via EAA