Carlos Monleón, known with his complex processes on body sensations and awareness, has installed "a colloquy of vessels" and "faciality machine" that refer to the "Digestion School", a sub-theme of the 4th Istanbul Design Biennial. 

This year's biennial, curated by Jan Boelen, is themed as "A School of Schools" and exhibited under six sub-titled themes in six venues: Yapı Kredi Culture Centre - Currents School, Pera Museum - Scales School, Arter - Earth School, SALT Galata - Time School, Studio-X Istanbul - Digestion School and Akbank Sanat - Unmaking School. 

Exhibited at the Studio-X Istanbul, Digestion School explores from metabolic systems, patterns of consumption, cultural rituals, and food infrastructure to consider how circular and lifelong learning manifest. Digestion School emphasizes the importance of communal and embodied approaches to living and learning. 

Regarding the theme, the artist asked: what are the correlations between the biophysics of tissue and the materials qualities of clay bodies and blown glass?

Drawing inspiration from the history of vessels, the two works on display emerge from an inquiry into the biological and evolutionary processes that have fashioned the tissues and organs that compose bodies. 

"Embryonic development, fluid exchange, and the rhythms of the liquefaction and solidification inform the works," said the artist. "The amphorae - a tall jar or jug - becomes a place of fermentation, storage and transportation of liquids."

"The unguentarium - a small bottle - becomes a device for the application of scented oils on the skin."

As Magazine Sponsor of the 4th Istanbul Design Biennial, World Architecture Community has taken an extensive look at the design projects exhibited at the six venues, including Akbank Sanat, Arter, Yapı Kredi Culture Centre, Pera Museum, SALT Galata and Studio-X Istanbul. Today, WAC team has visited the SALT Galata, presented under the title of Time School, and Studio-X Istanbul revealing Digestion School.

Organised by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (IKSV), the biennial brings together projects from more than 200 interdisciplinary practitioners from across the globe. The biennial will open to the public on September 22, 2018 and will be on view until November 4, 2018 in Istanbul.  

All images © Kayhan Kaygusuz, courtesy of Istanbul Design Biennial

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