In 2017 OMR Gallery commissioned Pirwi to develop, build, and install the Pavilion "And so on for Thousands of Years" designed by Jorge Mendez Blake for Art Basel Hong Kong 2018. For this project, Manuel led the development team under the direction of Ian Ortega (Pirwi's design director), the gallery, and the artist's studio.
The pavilion consisted in eight steel modules, CNC-machined panels, volcanic stone flooring and modular lighting systems. Sections were subdivided into smaller parts in order to ease the handling and freightage from Mexico City to Hong Kong. Artwork's weight was around 7 tons and was assembled within 20 hours by a team of 5 installers. This pavilion was possible thanks to the dozens of craftsmen from Mexico City that got involved in the fabrication of each part.
As the OMR Gallery stated, "The large scale project “Pavilion (And so on for Thousands of Years)” is based on the architectural typology of the central courtyard with perimeter corridors. It combines points of view towards the “outside”, when the route opens onto the corridors and the artworks, with views towards the “inside”, onto the central courtyard, where the climate changes and the nature is shown, isolated and pure.
“And so on for thousands of years”, is a quote from Kafka´s story “A message from the Emperor”. Here, it has been transformed from its original use - about the impossibility of communication - and it has become a mantra that refers to time, an element intimately connected to man and nature.
This pavilion - constituted of modular elements that can be modified in its interiors, combined differently or added endlessly - can become a modern version of the Imperial Palace visualized by Kafka, an infinite space."
Images from Jorge Méndez Blake (From 1 to 5) and Manuel Torres (6 to 8).
Design by: Jorge Méndez Blake
Client: OMR Gallery
Production and development: Pirwi
