The work of Vinu Daniel and his studio, Wallmakers, is also influenced by the Gandhian philosophy of using natural materials for construction, with an abiding respect for site-specific conditions and efficient waste management practices. At the Triennial, Wallmakers—the winner of Royal Academy Dorfman Award 2022—has created what it calls a 3-Minute Corridor. With 18 years of expertise in working with the humble mud, Daniel has envisioned the 3-Minute Corridor as an immersive and interactive installation where visitors are encouraged to walk and explore for themselves the repercussions of global consumerism. Known as a “green architect,” Daniel’s work has been exhibited at Barbican Centre in London. More recently, he was hailed by Time magazine for being one of the young innovators on their prestigious Time100 Next list. For 3-Minute Corridor, he has reused 1425 discarded car tyres.
Wallmakers, 3-Minute Corridor, 2023.Photo by Danko Stjepanovic, courtesy of Sharjah Architecture Triennial
Wallmakers, 3-Minute Corridor, 2023.Photo by Danko Stjepanovic, courtesy of Sharjah Architecture Triennial
“It took us two months to build this structure,” he says. “Usually, desert soil is not fit for construction but we could use desert sand after some testing in Jaisalmer. It was Pakistani workers who helped us in the construction. So, for me, 3-Minute Corridor is not only a commentary on global waste and celebration of local knowledge but also that architecture itself is interconnected to everything else in life,” insists Daniel, who describes himself as a “nomad,” though he was born in Dubai and is now finding himself rediscovering his roots in Kerala, thanks to Wallmakers’ growing footprint in South Indian cities.
Also read: Sharjah Biennial 15 reflects on complex histories through a contemporary lens
Limbo Accra, SUPER LIMBO, 2023.Photo by Danko Stjepanovic, courtesy of Sharjah Architecture Triennial
Limbo Accra, which was established in 2018 as a response to unfinished real estate projects in West African cities, is showcasing a project titled Super Limbo. Twenty Pakistani women from Karachi wove calico cotton to conjure this tactile public architecture and art pavilion. Staying true to Limbo Accra’s origins, the installation seeks to beautify the concrete ruins of the shuttered Sharjah Mall. “Our work attempts to transform abandoned building projects into symbols of abundance and untapped potential,” says Dominique Petit-Frère, the co-founder of Limbo Accra along with Emil Grip. After the Triennale, she says that the severan hundred-metres long fabric will be promptly repurposed into apparel, accessories, or upholstery in collaboration with Super Yaya (a clothing brand based between Abidjan and Beirut. “This offers individuals an intimate experience as they take home pieces woven with the essence of our pavilion’s journey,” she adds.
