Martino Stierli: The Project of Independence: Architectures of Decolonization in South Asia, 1947–1985

The Project of Independence: Architectures of Decolonization in South Asia, 1947–1985, an exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in New York, explores the ways modern architecture in the region gave shape and expression to idealistic societal visions and emancipatory politics of the independence period. On view from February 20, 2022, through July 2, 2022, the exhibition comprises over 200 works, including original sketches, drawings, photographs, films, audiovisual components, and architectural models, sourced primarily from prominent lenders and institutions in Bangladesh, India, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.

The exhibition is organized by Martino Stierli, The Philip Johnson Chief Curator of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art; Anoma Pieris, guest curator, and professor, University of Melbourne; and Sean Anderson, former Associate Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art, and Associate Professor/Director of Undergraduate Studies, Cornell University; with Evangelos Kotsioris, Assistant Curator, Department of Architecture and Design, The Museum of Modern Art. The curatorial team consulted with leading scholars of modern architecture from the region, many of whom also contributed to the accompanying exhibition catalog.

Martino Stierli will discuss the following lecture and the exhibition with students in Esra Akcan's seminar Climate: History: Architecture on March 30th, 10:00–11:00 a.m. If you are interested in joining this next-day seminar, please e-mail: ea369@cornell.edu.