Somewhere Other

Somewhere Other is published to coincide with the opening of John Wardle Architects’ installation as part of the curated Arsenale exhibition at the 16th International Biennale Architettura, held in Venice in 2018.

Far more than an exhibition catalogue, Somewhere Other is a rich reflection on the ideas and design philosophy embedded within the practice of John Wardle Architects (JWA). This publication is an exploration of the evolving role of portals, thresholds and framed views as an important recurring theme within JWA’s works.

In a centre piece essay, John Wardle reflects on the layers of inspiration, motivation and processes that produced the installation, expertly pulling together ideas from geometry to Venetian glass-making to Australian modernist painting. Feature essays are by Max Delany, Artistic Director & CEO of Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, and Rory Hyde, Curator of Contemporary Architecture and Urbanism at the Victoria and Albert Museum.

Somewhere Other is beautifully illustrated with a range of both finished photography and photography of works in progress. Including a rare behind-the-scenes tour of the construction of the work. These show the work of contractors, Jacaranda Industries, Tensys and Derek John and inside the studio of Murano glass masters as they coax shape into a intensely red orb. Other photo essays explore the works of optical artist Natasha Johns-Messenger and film-makers Coco and Maximilian, whose works feature in the installation.