The International Jury of the 13th Venice Architecture Biennale has awarded Cino Zucchi Architetti (CZA) a special mention for their installation, Copycat. Empathy and Envy as Form Makers. Their contribution is based on the notion that “we are all a bit copycats”, understanding that cultures are propagated by following “infectious” processes that combine imitation and innovation. CZA presents a collection of “almost-alike” objects and images with the idea that “similarity” rather than “originality” is where people find common ground.
CZA describes, “The installation gives body to the idea that formal cultures propagate through “contagious” processes which combine imitation and innovation, creating sequences of artifacts linked by subtle variations on a common theme. Nine metal cabinets are grouped around a central space paved with steel “cobblestones”. Each displays objects or images linked by this “almost-alike” principle: with entomological boxes, bread rolling pins from Rajasthan, pictures of Milanese Post-WWII façades by Giovanna Silva, scale models of submarines, pictures by Ari Versluis and Ellie Uyttenbroek of people dressed in similar fashions, souvenir buildings, an artwork by Charlie Roberts, architectural working models by CZA.”
