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Cédric Van Parys

sculptuur, publieke ruimte, Objecten, internationaal, installatie, Geschiedenis, Conceptueel, Artistiek onderzoek, Analytisch

Cédric Van Parys is an architect, researcher, artist and founder of Office CCXD, a Rotterdam based practice operating at the intersection of architecture and the visual arts. His work is based on historical and analytical investigations and is defined by a fascination for monuments, symbols, rituals, archetypes and the city as our collective memory. The result of his findings is then reimagined and appropriated into powerful artworks, installations and configurations balancing elegance and boldness, the old and the new, the natural and the artificial and the quotidian and the extraordinary.

Drawing inspiration from (architectural) history, archival research and natural science, Cédric Van Parys / Office CCXD aims to foster curiosity about the world we have made and inhabit and how this relates to the planet, the cosmos and beyond.

Elements of Architecture: The Window - The window room is part of the Elements of Architecture Exhibition on the 14th International Architecture Biennale – a research-based exhibition in the Central Pavilion exploring the often overlooked but universally familiar elements of architecture used by any architect, anywhere, any time: floor, door, wall, ceiling, window, toilet, escalator, elevator. The window used to make space, it asserted place-ness. Window seats, sills, bay windows, verandas, shutters, blinds, curtains all marked the position of the window on the façade and in the room. Since the 20th century, technological advances in window profiles and glass production have allowed many of these nuanced local components to be internalized in the window’s structures, the magically invisible window fittings. “The window became a device”.
Yingzao Fashi - Yingzao Fashi (YZFS), by state building supervisor Li Jie, is the oldest complete architecture treatise found in China. Written in 1103 AD – a time, like today, of immense growth in both population and prosperity – the Yingzhao Fashi offers a complete construction system defined by the state for all types of architecture, at all scales: from imperial palaces to curtain rod and covering detail descriptions, and for all subjects from account­ancy, construction management, responsible material use, and design. To save cost and improve the efficiency it is a nation-wide standardisation campaign which was successfully deployed from the northern plateaus of Siberia to the southern east Asian tropics. This project is an introduction to the most important part: the Dou-kung bracket system: an elaborated highly precise bracketing system that consists of multiple parts. Built only on pressure it requires ultimate precision and dedication.
What is The Netherlands - In the context of the 34th World Expo is opening in Milan in spring 2015, Het Nieuwe Instituut addresses this phenomenon from different perspectives. The exhibition What is the Netherlands shows how the Dutch entries to the World Expo have always been the result of collaborations between government, industry, designers and artists. This exhibition is a portrait of 14 select Dutch contributions to World Expos since 1910. Every contribution is a glance in the mirror, showing where the Netherlands was at a particular point in history, where they want to be, and how this reality and this desire can be displayed at a particular point in history. Documentation and remnants of the exhibitions are collected here for the first time and present a dialogue between modernity and nationality, economy and image, corporate opportunism and collective ambitions. Sometimes exotic, sometimes packed with enormous quantities of stuff, sometimes boring and empty. Sometimes small and introverted, courageous and convinced, timid and modest, experimental and funny, but always Dutch.
Architecture of Appropriation - A Guerrilla Intervention in São Paulo: In collaboration with the Bienal de Arquitetura de São Paulo and the Dutch Consulate in São Paulo, The New Institute organized a program with workshops, a seminar and an exhibition around the theme ‘occupancy/appropriation’. As part of this program, Office CCXD, Studio Knol, ZUS & GOAA were invited for a 6-day workshop to create an “assembly” space for the residents of the squatted high-rise known as Ocupação 9 de Julho in São Paulo. In a short 6-day workshop we intensively collaborated with a movement of former homeless people (MSTC)—now the inhabitants of the Ocupação 9th de Julho. As a combative movement, this group is committed to the many homeless people of São Paulo and the importance for housing opportunities in the city centre. The appropriation of vacant (office) buildings in the prosperous city centre became their most important form of action. The movement jointly renovates the cracked buildings and makes it inhabitable floor by floor. As a well-organized movement, the MSTC could actually make a difference and occupy a building in the midst of the elite city-centre. After our first meeting with the MSTC it became clear what they wanted the assembly room in the building to be; a place to get together, to inform, to learn, to mourn, to enjoy. A church but also a living room. A space that has the urge to live on, transform and grow.
Firmitas, Utilitas et Venustas - This is an art installation for Tools for Progress’ show at Collectible Fair 2019 in Brussels, Belgium. TFP’s first collection—a series of fine jewelries, solid bookstands and arched ashtrays—are presented as part of a cityscape.
Monuments for Progress - Over a period of ten months, Cédric travelled to all the different corners of Shanghai, seeking the architectural landmarks that gloriously represents the city’s breakneck progress since China’s economic accelerations in the early 1990’s. Researching Shanghai’s urban development and architectural history, while living and experiencing the city, has directed him towards a number of mysterious monuments, located on top of the metropolis’ skyscrapers. This installation—presented in Sala d’armi, Arsenale, at the 2017 Venice Art Biennale, and created during his time at the Swatch Art Peace Hotel—is the result of a system that was projected on top of Shanghai’s urban network, to select a series of ‘monuments’ that truly represent the city’s history, present and future.
The Gatekeeper — - Exploring the boundaries between object, display and (re)presentation
The Winning Game — - The Winning Game is a collaboration between architect and researcher Cédric Van Parys (office CCXD) and artist Marianne Turck, exploring the surrealistic relationship between people, man-made objects and the natural landscape. This work combines the monumental and the spatial with the intuitive and the spiritual. By greatly enlarging the billiard balls, this installation transforms any place or space into a platform for an imaginary game. This artwork acts as a catalyst, moderating a conversation. Like erratic boulders in an empty dessert, they appear alien, but also rooted, as if they have always belonged there.
Nothing New Under the Sun - This latest collection of objects explores a desire to imitate nature by presenting a series of small dual displays. Sculpted from anthracite and subsequently casted in aluminum, each twin “shelve” is unique and can be used to display any precious or peculiar object. Unlike the widely applied marbles, travertine and onyxes, this material has a specific “aura” which is comparable to the Chinese scholar’s rock (gongshi). It is a stone shaped by natural forces, which is appreciated for its particular appearance. Whilst the original coal rock is unique and permanent, the casted aluminum rock is transitory and reproducible. By placing them next to each other Nothing New Under the Sun stimulates a series of thoughts. Together they celebrate the surrealistic transformational processes of nature.
Equilibrium - The contrasting realities of life and death are etched in Egypt’s topography and iterated in the dualities that informed the ancient ideology—divine and mortal, fertile and barren, order and chaos. Egyptian Culture at its best was characterized by its dedication to maintaining an equilibrium of those dualities and the continuity this implied. Survival depended on close observation of nature’s manifest order, with all its pros and cons. To the ancient Egyptian, the desert was a vast and tangible memento mori whose presence instilled the awareness of vulnerability that is a requisite for real strength. In more ways than one, they were way ahead of us. This series of 'Beacons' captures this equilibrium between nature, people and their creations as it is today.
MonoXylon - an Internationalist Monument It is reminiscent of obelisks from ancient Egypt or totem poles of the Native Americans but it is neither. As a new, still to be defined internationalist monument, this solid wooden sculpture invites you to think into the future. It is a centerpiece and symbol around which people gather, defining a place for contemplation and encounters. It invites us to renew our relationship with nature and the cosmos and searches for original approaches to existing social, religious, political or cultural norms. As such—contrary to many other monuments—the MonoXylon does not impose power from above, but rather concentrates collective power from those who surround them.

MonoXylon | Raum der Lusten

Datum:
Locatie: Stadslab RAUM
In samenwerking met: RAUM, ZUS Architects, Vic Landscapes

The MonoXylon is made for ‘RAUM Der Lusten’, a living laboratory for public spaces in Utrecht. Inspired by the famous triptych ‘The Garden of Earthly Delights’ by Hieronymus Bosch (1480-1490), ZUS Architects curated three landscapes for this exhibition: ‘Hell’, ‘Paradise’, and ‘The World’. Each landscape will be shaped by the works of art of established and up-and-coming artists and architects, and promises visitors a unique experience with unexpected encounters.

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/monoxylon

We Need To Talk | DAMN°77

Datum:
In samenwerking met: DAMN Magazine and Esther Munoz Grootveld

This article is about beauty.
Beauty is a powerful tool to forge meaningful and long-lasting relationships between people and objects, and between people in general. Why, then, is beauty considered a dangerous business and blatantly ignored in today’s critical discourse about design? And why have we been taken hostage by a conservative sustainability fetishism where beauty is off-limits ?

https://www.damnmagazine.net/company_news/we-need-to-talk/

Nothing New Under the Sun

Datum:
Locatie: Espace Vanderborght
In samenwerking met: Collectible Design

TFP’s latest collection explores a desire to imitate nature by presenting a series of small dual displays. Sculpted from anthracite and subsequently casted in aluminum, each twin “shelve” is unique and can be used to display any precious or peculiar object. Unlike the widely applied marbles, travertine and onyxes, this material has a specific “aura” which is comparable to the Chinese scholar’s rock (gongshi). It is a stone shaped by natural forces, appreciated for its particular appearance.

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/nothing-new-under-the-sun

The Gatekeeper | Cry Me A River

Datum:
In samenwerking met: MJ fine Arts

Carpet, sculpted marble block, polished marble sheet, pencil drawing, 3d printed Atlantes, 65 x 65 x 30cm As shown on the exhibition "Cry me a river", Ghent, Belgium, curated by Mieke Janssens.
2019

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/the-gatekeeper

Firmitas, Utilitas et Venustas | Collectible Fair

Datum:
In samenwerking met: Collectible

Installation at Collectible Design Fair 2019 in Brussels, Belgium. TFP’s first collection—a series of fine jewelries, solid bookstands and arched ashtrays—are presented as part of a cityscape.

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/firmitas,-utilitas-et-venustas

Architecture of Appropriation | Bienal de Arquitetura de São Paulo

Datum:
Locatie: Ocupação 9 de Julho
In samenwerking met: Bienal de Arquitetura de São Paulo & Het Nieuwe Instituut

In collaboration with the Bienal de Arquitetura de São Paulo and the Dutch Consulate in São Paulo, The New Institute organized a program with workshops, a seminar and an exhibition around the theme ‘occupancy/appropriation’. As part of this program, Office CCXD, Studio Knol, ZUS & GOAA were invited for a 6-day workshop to create an “assembly” space for the residents of the squatted high-rise known as Ocupação 9 de Julho in São Paulo.

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/architecture-of-appropriation

Chromatic Dinner

Datum:
In samenwerking met: Seattle Art & Design Week | Het Nieuwe Instituut

The Chromatic Dinner was a series of dinners (In Rotterdam and Seattle) organised in collaboration with Martin Butler and Chef Alexander Gershberg. The concept of the evening is that all senses (Taste, Vision, Smell, Sound and Touch) are stimulated.

https://hetnieuweinstituut.nl/en/chromatic-dinner

Monuments for Progress Lecture

Datum:
Locatie: Het Nieuwe Instituut

Lecture about the Research Project Monuments for Progress in Shanghai, China. It was part of the Thursday Night Live events at Het Nieuwe Instituut.

Monuments for Progress | Venice Art Biennale 2017

Datum:
Locatie: Sala d’armi, Arsenale
In samenwerking met: Swatch Group

The Installations "Monument for Progress" is the result of a system that was projected on top of Shanghai’s urban network, to select a series of ‘monuments’ that truly represent the city’s history, present and future. The final sculptures and installation was presented on the Venice Art Biennale in 2017.

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/monuments-for-progress

51 Personae | Shanghai Art Biennale

Datum:
In samenwerking met: Shanghai Art Biennale

Documentary & Book launch

Documentary maker Romain Vennekens, followed and recorded my travels on this “Vertical Road-trip” through the city of Shanghai. Together with Graphic Designer Lu Liang, a catalogue was produced.
Both were released on the rooftop of the China Construction bank, as part of the “51 Personae” program of the 2016 Shanghai Art Biennale, Curated by Chen Yun.

https://www.powerstationofart.com/whats-on/activities/man-seeking-centers-of-gravity

Swatch Art Peace Hotel

Datum:
In samenwerking met: Swatch group

Cédric Van Parys was invited to spend half a year at the Swatch Art Peace hotel in Shanghai to have the space and time to conduct his investigation into the mysterious monuments, located on top of the metropolis’ skyscrapers.

https://www.swatch-art-peace-hotel.com/virtual-museum/Cédric-Van-Parys-113

The Monument

Datum:
In samenwerking met: Otis College for Art and Design

Cédric Van Parys was invited as a quest teacher during the Design Week at Otis College of Art in Los Angeles, USA. During this week, we organised a workshop with the students on the topic of monuments and I was also invited to prepare a lecture.

What is The Netherlands

Datum:
Locatie: Het Nieuwe Instituut
In samenwerking met: Het Nieuwe Instituut , Stephan Petermann

In the context of the 34th World Expo is opening in Milan in spring 2015, Het Nieuwe Instituut addresses this phenomenon from different perspectives. The exhibition What is the Netherlands shows how the Dutch entries to the World Expo have always been the result of collaborations between government, industry, designers and artists. This exhibition is a portrait of 14 select Dutch contributions to World Expos since 1910. Every contribution is a glance in the mirror, showing where the Netherlands

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/what-is-the-netherlands

Elements of Architecture | 14th Venice Architecture Biennale | Roof and Window room

Datum:
Locatie: Central Pavilion in the Giardini
In samenwerking met: OMA/AMO

The Roof and Window room are part of the Elements of Architecture – a research-based exhibition in the Central Pavilion exploring the often overlooked but universally familiar elements of architecture used by any architect, anywhere, any time: floor, door, wall, ceiling, window, toilet, escalator, elevator…

https://www.officeccxd.com/projects/yingzao-fashi
Transnational Monuments
Cédric Van Parys Transnational Monuments