Strangely Familiar
This is a series of works is from a project called Strangely Familiar that I worked on in my 4th semester studio class. I collaborated with three other architects to design a structure with the help of AI programs based off of the likeness of grain silos. The story of this structure was made to alter the definition of a hoard. With inspiration from John Soane's Museum, this dystopian structure is a hoard of artifacts from an older age. These artifacts were once curated objects in a persons collection, though the mass of these artifacts eventually took over the structures walls, ceilings, and floors, eradicating any hope for any future human occupants. A structure built to house objects, this speaks on the philosophy of object oriented ontology, giving the artifacts agency over anything else, including humans. This hoard of curated objects now has transformed into a living and breathing structure in a world without humans. The first render is an atmospheric rendering visualizing the structure in its own dystopian world. The next two renders are vignettes detailing the entrance and part of the façade respectively.
About the Artist, Alejandro Torres
Alejandro Torres is a 3rd year architecture student at the University of Texas A&M and is graduating in the fall of 2024. Growing up in the valley, one of the poorest communities in the United States, it was rare for him to experience developed architecture. Despite this, he was able to recognize some hidden gems that made him want to reinvent the Rio Grande Valley and show the world its beauty and culture. In his first few semesters at A&M, he found a love for designing residencies. There is a level of intimacy in bringing a clients' vision to life that one can only get when designing residencies. More recently, he has done projects based off of the urbanization of small communities. This has helped him think of his goal as an architect and how he can approach it. He has also done projects based off of the theoretical and philosophical side of architecture. This includes pondering the meaning of the word "architecture" and the agency of humans in the world of architecture.
Interview with the Artist
What impacts do you think art can have on society?
Whether it's through the medium of a social commentary or a self-expression of beauty, art is inspiring. People recognize the passion that goes into a piece of art and the journey that it takes for such a piece to be brought to life. Not all art has to have meaning, though every work of art is to be interpreted. Its peoples' past experiences that justify how they will be impacted by a piece of art.
What is the main message you would like others to take from your pieces?
The main message behind this project has to do with the idea of a hoard and the agency of a structure without people. This structure that's been taken by the hoard will not be viewed by anyone, experienced by anyone, nor house any living creature. Yet this pile of forgotten objects in a run down structure is still art and has its own place in the universe. Curated objects of a long forgotten civilization sit in its tomb abandoned by those who built it. This hoard is no longer a pile of trash, but a remnant of what once was.
How has your artistic style changed over the years? Do you follow current trends or follow different themes?
Throughout my years as an architecture student, I have noticed my style adapting. I went from a phase of designing a modern style of home in my early years, to focusing on design strategies used by the architects of old. My most recent, I designed a chapel based on the same principals that the master masons used to design cathedrals. One notion that has stood with me was biophilic design. While I wasn't truly able to explore that in this dystopian project, the interaction between structure and nature is always something I try to focus on.
What does art mean to you?
Art is a composition of passion and dedication depicted through one's chosen medium. It's a small outlook into one's personal experiences and an open invitation to be impacted by something. Art isn't something that has to be pretty, but it should be impactful, either towards the viewer or the artist.