HYBRID CREATURES
The amazing work of Isidoro Michan-Guindi
by Marcela Aguilar y Maya
In the surprising compound of LIGA, Space for Architecture, in Doctor Erazo Mexico City, the exhibition of Michan´s work is a must visit.
As the studio has no relevant realized buildings in its portfolio, Michan-Guindi is relatively unknown within the panorama of contemporary Mexican architecture. Yet, his studio is a thriving laboratory in which carboard models, colored concrete try-outs, electro-robotic components and aluminum casts are transformed into intelligent architectural proposals, ranging from everyday objects like door handles to complete housing towers.
Through a constant exploration with prototypes and models, Michan-Guindi has developed an exciting body of work that questions basic architectural notions such as composition, gravity, comfort and functionality. His proposals have strong animistic qualities and a certain formal awkwardness, that make the spectator looks twice. He invokes a tangible world of Hedjuk-like animals, devilish horns, otherworldy characters, shapes with souls and self-propelling stools, provoking a successful clash between the absurd and the plausible.
Trained in the US (Princeton & Cornell), the young Mexican architect Isidoro Michan-Guindi (Mexico City, 1990) established a practice in Mexico City in 2019.
LIGA, Space for Architecture is an independent platform founded in Mexico City in 2011 that promotes Latin American contemporary architecture through exhibitions, conferences and workshops.
Calle Doctor Erazo 176,
Col. Doctores, Del. Cuauhtémoc
CP 06720 Ciudad de México
SCHEDULES
VISITA LIGA, ESPACIO PARA ARQUITECTURA
Lunes a Jueves de 10 a.m. a 6 p.m.
Viernes de 10 a.m. a 3 p.m.
A partir del 15 de abril, sábados de 11 a.m. a 6 p.m.
© Arturo Arrieta