Guided tour of the exhibition Vector of Poverty

Guided tour with the exhibition curator Rostislav Koryčánek.
For three semesters, students from several studios of the Faculty of Fine Arts (Brno University of Technology) have explored topics related to various aspects of poverty, inclusion, and how this pressing social issue can be addressed within architecture. Is it even appropriate for architects to approach such a complex topic through their profession?

The exhibition aims to highlight the social dimension of architecture and its connection to the economic and political factors that influence both our relationship to architecture and how architecture interacts with the problems it seeks to address.

Poverty manifests itself in architecture in various ways. It can be seen in a lack of quality housing, limited access to public spaces and services, segregation, and social exclusion. Architecture can either reinforce or alleviate poverty - acting as a tool for social control and segregation, or as a means to create inclusive and equitable environments.

The Vector of Poverty exhibition focuses primarily on mitigating the effects of poverty. It showcases projects and concepts aimed at creating affordable and decent housing, revitalizing neglected areas, and promoting social inclusion. It shares a common theme with the exhibition Poverty, held from 17 January to 30 March 2025 at the Havlíčkův Brod Gallery and the Horácká Gallery in Nové Město na Moravě. This exhibition addresses poverty in a broader social and historical context, with an emphasis on its reflection in art from the Baroque period to the present. The two exhibitions complement each other, together forming a comprehensive portrayal of the issue, from its physical manifestations in architecture and urbanism to its cultural and social dimensions.

Photo: Tereza Meiringerová