MPavilion

FOREGROUND brought conversations and storytelling that is usually in the background to the foreground at MPavillion—mapping the intersection between spoken-word, poetry, sound, movement and discussion.

One of the uniting aspects of humanity is storytelling. In this performance and discussion, the collective of artists used ritual and space to alchemise history and experience through collective storytelling.

The event's intention was to create a playful and safe space for important and meaningful conversations to be had. By creating a poetic space for things to emerge, such dialogue will, in time, become part of everyday language and begin to change the public discourse.

After the spoken word and movement performance, there was a mediated and interactive panel discussion with the seven artists, allowing the audience to step into the narrative.

As a wrap-up to the BLAKitecture 2018/19 series, speakers across the fields of architecture, planning, archaeology and design contemplated the good, bag, ugly and inspiring aspects of the season's themes, exploring where the conversation and action should head next.

MPavilion’s second annual BLAKitecture forum brought together Indigenous built environment practitioners on the Yaluk-ut Weelam land of the Boon Wurrung people. The forum aimed to centralise Indigenous voices in conversations about architecture, the representation of histories, the present state and the future of our built environments. BLAKitecture is curated by MPavilion’s program consultant Sarah Lynn Rees.

“The invention of the ship was also the invention of the shipwreck,” said Paul Virilio, yoking together the opportunities and consequences of technological progress. We joined Rory Hyde, co-curator of The Future Starts Here exhibition at the V&A in London, to discover a landscape of possibilities for the future of design. Rory discussed the background to the major 2018 exhibition, which brought together 100 objects ranging from smart appliances and satellites to artificial intelligence and internet culture.

This event was made possible by the Hugh D T Williamson Foundation through funding for MPavilion’s series of events looking at design & science.

Mass attacks in public spaces, pedestrian trauma, gender-based violence... How do we better share our public spaces? Have our safety needs changed, and if so, what do we most immediately need to be addressing? What are the innovative ideas leading the endeavour to keep our cities open to everyone? This panel included Melbourne’s deputy chief resilience officer, Maree Grenfell, architect Orlando Harrison, Zoe Condliffe of XYX Lab and artist Glen Walton.

Listen in on a conversation on the changing nature of work over the generations. We spoke with active community member, Marg D’Arcy, as she shared her experiences working in government, not for profit and “grass roots” organisations. Marg is also the mum of Real Life Patron, Beci Orpin.

Melbourne is recognised as the world’s most liveable city, and the most intelligent. But what does the city do to remain relevant and maintain these accolades? European cities are seeing river and ocean pools open in the major cities almost monthly; urban farms are activating disused spaces and creating vital services and income to displaced members of the public; and events that encourage wide community participation have been created right across Asia to engage the active millennial traveler and growing population.

Listen in on a vibrant and urgent discussion about the processes and challenges of gaining funding and approval for community- and market-led projects in Melbourne with a panel of speakers who share their experiences of getting projects off the ground and developed. Led by Yarra Pools, this conversation sought to understand whether we are hesitant as a city to move forward on validated and global ideas.

Mat Pember from the Little Veggie Patch Co spoke about his pop-up patch in Federation Square; Courtney Carthy shared the journey of the Inflatable Regatta, and lastly Mirerva Holmes discusses the four-year journey to take the Yarra Pool from concept to community-driven reality. The panel was moderated by Caroline Clements, founding editor of Broadsheet and author of the exciting new release, Places We Swim.

Image courtesy of Yarra Pools and Studio Octopi.

What should cultural heritage encompass? What should be protected—how and why? Spring evening design debates with the Australian Institute of Architects returned to MPavilion during our most recent season of free events. Representatives from the Victorian Chapter of the AIA went head to head on timely and enduring ideas in architecture, including this debate, titled ‘New heritage’. Panellists included Sofie Kvist, Matt Gibson, Tania Davidge, Ross Turnbull and Clare Cousins.

Spoken-word, poetry, sound, movement and discussion intersect with a line-up of emerging storytellers. Last season’s ‘FOREGROUND’ event brought storytelling styles that are usually in the background to MPavillion with the intention to create a playful and safe space for important and meaningful conversations. Guests included Oscar Key-Sung, Aretha Brown, Jo Pugh, Shannon May Powell, Joshua Lynch, Ichikawaedward, Jonathan Homsey and Jacob Coppedge.

Following the performances was a panel discussion with the seven artists, allowing the audience (and now you!) to step into the narrative.

Listen to a vital panel conversation interrogating the role of gender in leadership, presented by Collectivity Talks. ‘Leadership and women’ interrogates the attributes of good leadership. Should gender enter the discussion? Why the controversy around quotas? Do female leaders have a responsibility to foster the careers of other women?

Listen to Sir Peter Cook, internationally influential architect and a founder of avant-garde architectural group Archigram. Sir Peter is Emeritus Professor at University College London, The Royal Academy of Arts and the Frankfurt Staedelschule, with recent works including the construction of his radical Art Museum in Graz, Austria (Kunsthaus).

He was in Melbourne to direct an intensive design studio at the Melbourne School of Design, University of Melbourne, Sir Peter joined us at MPavilion in a discussion with Professor Martyn Hook and architect Christine Phillips, offering thoughts, suggestions and provocations on the future of the 21st century city after Archigram and where architectural education is now tending. Professor Donald Bates provided the introduction.

This event was supported by Melbourne School of Design.