British architect David Adjaye, who is an advisor to the Serpentine Gallery and helped select Counterspace, said: "The global Covid-19 crisis has changed the immediate context," the postponement was needed to provide time to built the pavilion:
Serpentine Galleries Statement
For the first time since the annual architecture programme was founded 20 years ago, the 2020 Serpentine Pavilion designed by Johannesburg-based practice Counterspace has been extended into a two-year commission.
Counterspace, directed by Sumayya Vally, Sarah de Villiers and Amina Kaskar will collaborate with the Serpentine on a series of off-site and online research projects throughout 2020, which will culminate with the opening of the Pavilion in Summer 2021.
Sir David Adjaye OBE, Serpentine Galleries Trustee and Serpentine Pavilion Advisor, said:
"The global COVID-19 crisis has changed the immediate context. Rather than rush to execute Counterspace's stellar design as soon as it is safe to do so, the Serpentine has chosen to accept the slowness reshaping society today and utilize it to develop a deeper relationship with the architects."
"We look forward to working with Counterspace over the next 12 months to draw more meaningful connections between their pavilion and the people, communities, and nature of London," Adjaye added.
"While the circumstances that have prompted this evolution are by no means easy, we believe it is an important opportunity for this pavilion to stand as a bridge of sorts between either sides of this unfathomably significant time in history."
The lead architect on the project, Sumayya Vally of Counterspace, said of the design:
"We've always relied on places of gathering to come together and we miss them when they're gone. COVID-19 has brought the Pavilion themes of community and gathering sharply into focus - allowing us the opportunity to extend and deepen our engagement process over two years.
We are excited to launch a set of initiatives that will redefine and celebrate the role of gathering and the construction and preservation of belonging in times of crisis - reversing the original procession, so that a cascade of dialogues, events, programmes, and fragments of the Pavilion will pop-up incrementally in real and digital space over the course of 2020 coming together in 2021 in Kensington Gardens to form Pavilion 20 plus 1."
“The pavilion is itself conceived as an event — the coming together of a variety of forms from across London over the course of the Pavilion’s sojourn. These forms are imprints of some of the places, spaces and artefacts which have made care and sustenance part of London’s identity.
The breaks, gradients and distinctions in colour and texture between different parts of the Pavilion make this reconstruction and piecing together legible at a glance. As an object, experienced through movement, it has continuity and consistency, but difference and variation are embedded into the essential gesture at every turn.
Bettina Korek, CEO, and Hans Ulrich Obrist, Artistic Director, Serpentine Galleries said:
“Counterspace’s Pavilion has developed in tandem with Back to Earth, our multi-year initiative responding to the environmental crisis. Ecology, community and other themes of Back to Earth are intrinsic to Counterspace’s practice as well, and these have only grown more meaningful during this time of social distancing and planetary struggle."
"We are fortunate to have this opportunity to take more time to collaborate with Counterspace and our community partners on their commission. Back to Earth inaugurates our commitment to making ‘Slow Programming’ that expands beyond the conventional limits of museum activity."
"We are grateful to the architects for their vision and to all our supporters who make it possible for us to continue our work of evolving the Serpentine’s role in a rapidly changing society.”
The Serpentine’s public programme of live performance, discussion, food and family engagement in the Pavilion, as well as the annual fundraiser, The Summer Party, will also move to 2021.
The realisation of the annual Serpentine Pavilion relies on the support and expertise of several organisations and individuals, without whom the commission would not be possible. The Serpentine is grateful for the continuing support during the temporary closure.
