Memory in Motion: Architecture of Perseverance

Bogdan Seredyak

CONTRAST is pleased to present the first solo exhibition in Japan,"Memory in Motion: Architecture of Perseverance" by Ukrainian artist and architect Bogdan Seredyak from July 15th, Saturday to July 23rd, Sunday. Since 2018, Bogdan has been operating his independent practice, driven by a strong desire to enhance human-centered environments through practical design, site-specific installations, and a diverse range of architectural projects that are influenced by urban and social research. His primary objective is to challenge viewers' perceptions and understanding of space. His latest body of work,"Memory in Motion" was born out of his research on Rotterdam post-war landscape released in May 2022. The project aims to initiate a critical dialogue and discussion about collective memories of the built environment within architectural and civic communities. Since September 2022, Bogdan has been working on this project in Tokyo, where he has had the opportunity to explore Japan's reconstruction strategies. "Memory in Motion" explores the idea of an ever-changing architecture. How do we rebuild after destruction? How do we retain the memory of what happened yet be able to transcend it? Architecture is a container of collective memory, once it is destroyed, connection to the continuity of history is in danger. The project focuses on the post-war reconstruction strategy for Ukraine, showcasing it as a framework rather than a solution. Using Machine Learning algorithms to blend 4 distinct styles often seen in Ukraine - Byzantine, Baroque, Soviet Modernism, and traditional (often found in small wooden churches) to create a unique Ukrainian architectural language. From this, a new architecture emerges, from the familiar old that is transformed, by conscious intention and design, into the unfamiliar, radically new, enabling progressive yet mnemonic ideas for the reconfigured domestic habitat. Supported by Embassy of Ukraine in Japan