200 Words or Less
Through March 25, 2012
The Philadelphia Museum of Art
By Christina Lisk
Zaha Hadid: Form in Motion conveys the innovative combinations of material and
computer-based design that earned Hadid the Pritzker Prize in 2004. The exhibit also allows viewers to experience Hadid’s works visually and kinesthetically. Hadid’s geometries are futuristic yet practical, as shown by cube-shaped chairs available to visitors as they watch a film on Hadid’s buildings. These chairs show Hadid’s genius through their ability to become modular, form seats of multiple shapes, and permit viewers to customize these pre-designed seats to individual tastes.
Hadid’s ability to intertwine human structures with nature is emphasized by her integration of light and water. Each building stands beautifully on its own, but Hadid furthers the effect through sun and shadow. Glass structures such as the Guangzhou Opera House and the Sunrise Tower permit the creation of indoor shadows, enhancing Hadid’s innovative shapes. Her buildings incorporate water, not only through their curvature but also in the water’s reflection, as is shown by the Performing Arts center in Abu Dhabi and the Opus Building in Dubai. Cross-collaboration is present in each of Hadid’s structures and reaches its fullest potential by mixing architecture and nature. Hadid’s innovative amalgamations of the natural world, futurism, and practicality make her exhibit a must-see at the Philadelphia Museum of Art.