Anarchitecture: A 1970s NYC Art Collective's Rebellion Against Modernist Architecture
2025-05-09
In 1970s New York, the artist collective Anarchitecture, comprising figures like Laurie Anderson and Gordon Matta-Clark, challenged the rigidity of modernist architecture and its complicity in capitalist production. Their 1974 exhibition, similarly titled, anonymously showcased works critiquing architecture as a symbol of cultural excess. Matta-Clark's later 'building cuts' further explored this theme, transforming abandoned structures to expose society's obsession with material wealth. Concurrently, the group ran the influential restaurant 'Food' in SoHo, supporting a local artist network. Anarchitecture's work posed profound questions about modern architecture and urban space.