BUNKER: the optimism of the pessimistic

This exhibit puts in conversation the contemporary works of photographers and scholars Richard Ross, Bradley Garrett, and Adam Reynolds with Paul Virilio’s 1975 series … titled “Bunker Archeology.” During the pandemic isolation gained an entirely new meaning, and spaces for quarantine and reclusiveness attained increased visibility and popularity. However, designing protective spaces through seclusion has been a long-standing and widely-disseminated modern strategy to address military and sanitary actions. Bunker-types were broadly adopted during WWI, and these spaces served varying purposes over the years. Traditionally known as insalubrious underground spaces, this exhibition shows how bunkers have evolved. No longer necessarily buried or hidden, they now serve a variety of functions depending on context and historical moment. This show invites viewers to reflect both on the design of these spaces and on the conditions that necessitated their creation in the first place.