The British School at Rome

About

Artist Andrea Medjesi-Jones (who teaches BA Fine Art)  and Architect Edward Simpson ( who teaches Professional Diploma in Architecture) first met as 2013-2014 award-holders at the British School at Rome.

They do not draw direct links between their work; however, the sharing of the space is a reflection of a dialogue that began in Italy and continues within the Cass, and represents the enjoyment of informal collaboration between artists and architects.

Linking to the project ‘Who is afraid of the invisible hand’ (Vienna, 2012) and the British School in Rome residency, Medjesi-Jones will expand on her utility and mediation of gesture as a site-specific and perfomative action. By looking at the history of political activism, in this instance the Luddites movement from the 19th century England, Medjesi-Jones aims to highlight the material functioning of gesture in relationship to language, image production and history. The Luddites revolt against technology that is understood as a direct and violent response to industrialization is a point of departure for the wall-based painting Medjesi-Jones will install at the Bank Space at the CASS.

Edward Simpson will present work from his residency at the British School at Rome as the 2013-2014 Holder of the Rome Prize in Architecture. Through photography, physical models, drawing and writing he will describe his findings from five housing projects built in Rome between 1910 and 1982. The projects are chosen as examples of distinct approaches to public and shared space, from the Istituto Case Popolari courtyard blocks in Testaccio to the atrium deck-access of Mario Fiorentino’s slab block at Corviale. Each example represents an investigation into the complexity of designing spaces in which residents are able to socialise, and the relationship of these spaces to the wider city. 

‘Five Rome Housing Projects’ is made possible through the support of the British School at Rome and by a contribution from one of the BSR's Ashby Society patrons.