exhibition

Richard Saltoun Gallery proudly unveils the visionary creations of esteemed British architect, Sir Peter Cook. Over the span of six decades, his unparalleled works take center stage in this exhibition, featuring a captivating site-specific architectural marvel specially crafted for the gallery. Alongside this masterpiece, an exquisite assortment of drawings and paintings gracefully narrates the radical conceptual essence that underlies the artist's oeuvre. In this immersive display, visitors are cordially invited to engage in a captivating 'visual discussion' centered around cities: cities that have been reimagined, dismantled and cities that ambitiously embrace new forms by ascending over themselves.

This exhibition aligns with the momentous 60-year anniversary of the celebrated showcase, Living City, held at the ICA – a venue that once graced the same street as the Richard Saltoun Gallery. During Living City, Peter Cook, along with luminaries Warren Chalk, Dennis Crompton, David Greene, Ron Herron, and Michael Webb, collectively known as the renowned neo-futurist architectural group, Archigram, exalted the ephemeral nature and serendipitous essence of urban landscapes. Their innovative use of captivating imagery, ingeniously collaged into a three-dimensional triangulated framework, unveiled groundbreaking concepts that continue to inspire creatives worldwide, including trailblazers in high-tech architecture like Renzo Piano, Richard Rogers, Norman Foster, and Rem Koolhaas.

Throughout his illustrious career since the 1960s, Cook has demonstrated unwavering dedication to the theoretical realm of architecture and its exploration through the expressive medium of drawing. Liberated from the constraints of reality, his drawings have redefined cities' appearance and functionality by presenting an array of distinct and inventive designs. Among his remarkable contributions is the ongoing series of works titled Arcadia, a testament to his artistic journey, as well as the iconic project, Plug-in City, previously showcased in the ICA's Living City. Spanning from 1963 to 1966, Plug-in City envisioned a variety of prefabricated modular residences or 'capsules,' coupled with innovative modes of transportation and essential services, all seamlessly 'plugging in' to a central hyper structure.

Over time, Cook's designs evolved, embracing a fusion of natural elements with mechanical and artificial components, culminating in a captivating blend of the two. Undeterred by the grandiose scale of entire cities or projects, Cook's creative process revolves around accumulating fragments and eclectic sources of inspiration. Embracing this approach, his captivating vision of the City has remained constant, always on the cusp of metamorphosis, ever-evolving, and delightfully enigmatic.

Cities

18 July - 16 September 2023 London