What is architecture? It is a constantly evolving practice, whose narrative is continually being rewritten – or, in this particular case, redesigned! The exhibition Chronograms of Architecture, on display at CIVA, explores this complex question through eight chronograms. Eight distinct narratives each illustrate a unique perspective on the contemporary issues and concerns of architectural culture.
The exhibition takes its starting point from an iconic work by Charles Jencks, produced from the 1970s onwards: a series of chronograms that trace the broad outlines of the evolution of architectural discourse. First of all, it is worth understanding what a chronogram is before getting to the heart of the matter. It is a type of diagram whose distinctive feature is to represent the evolution of a concept on a timeline. It is therefore by placing social movements, technical innovations, projects and key figures on a timeline that C. Jencks illustrates the evolution of the architectural discipline from 1920 to the early 2000s.
The work presented in the exhibition updates his drawings and takes into account the discipline’s current challenges. Eight teams – comprising architects, graphic designers and researchers – were invited to illustrate their own vision through a reinterpretation of the reference chronograms. Whilst C. Jencks’ diagrams offer a synthetic and universal vision of architecture, the new proposals adopt perspectives that are more engaged and deeply rooted in specific contexts. Architectural discourse is no longer presented as a homogeneous narrative, but is constructed from a constellation of situated positions, resonating with current concerns.
Notable contributors include Pier Vittorio Aureli and Marson Korbi, who examine the role of the architect as well as the very definition of architecture since its origins. Also featured are Lionel Devlieger, Michael Ghyoot, Adam Przywara, Karen Steukers, Arne Vande Capelle and Louise Vanhee, who trace the evolution of building practices from 1750 to 2050, highlighting material extraction and the alarming growth in waste. Their reflections form part of a range of themes such as techno-optimism, technological bureaucracy, feminist spatialities, racial inequalities, architectural ecologies and conditions of production.
The diversity of the media used reflects a diversity of approaches and narratives. However, all these works are permeated by the same tension: that of time, and of an uncertain future.
The educational dimension of architectural discourse is not overlooked. The exhibition also raises the question of transmission: how does one teach a discipline in constant flux? Through which media can this flux be captured and shared? Drawing, the architect’s fundamental tool, becomes here a critical instrument, serving to reflect on the practice itself.
Chronograms of Architecture is conceived as a travelling exhibition, designed to evolve as it moves between its international venues. At each stage, new chronograms will be added to enrich the exhibition. The exhibition space, a hybrid of a showcase and a conference room, also hosts discussions and workshops, extending the reflection in an open and collective format.
On display at CIVA until 28 September 2025.
