Weak Monument

An exploration of the blurred line between a monument's explicitly political form and the implicit political meaning of seemingly insignificant architectural objects and public spaces

Monuments represent power: explicitly and simply, but not universally. In Estonia, the classical notion of a monument is a strange appearance. Its presence is marginal, its tradition nonexistent and its form tormented by an apparent cultural displacement. The statue on a square never claimed the central position so common in Western Europe. This semantic void directs attention to other, less exceptional pieces of architecture. Sometimes a stairway marks a politically charged location, or a pavement becomes symbolic. Instead of explicit meanings inscribed in marble and bronze, an implicit charge is revealed that might be weaker yet more relevant, for it cannot be openly questioned what is only implicit.

Weak Monument, published in conjunction with the Estonian pavillion at the 2018 International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale, explores the blurred line between a monument's explicitly political form and the architecture of everyday. It juxtaposes classical monuments with seemingly insignificant architectural objects and public space in a collection of images and drawings, archival as well as newly commissioned ones, alongside essays and brief texts.

• Explores the nature of monuments vs. seemingly insignificant architectures and public spaces
• Investigates differing notions of what exactly constitutes a monument

• Published to coincide with the exhibition at the Estonian Pavilion at the 2018 International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale

  Autorentext
  Tadeá íha (6a architects), Laura Linsi (East Architecture, Landscape, Urban Design Ltd.), and Roland Reemaa (Sanchez Benton Architects) live and work in London as architects and researchers and are the co-curators of the Estonian National Pavilion at the 16th International Architecture Exhibition of the Venice Biennale 2018.