Rolex has always championed excellence in design, craftsmanship and in its dedication to the arts. Always elevating the bar in both aesthetics and functionality, Rolex has certified its roots in architecture as Exclusive Partner and Official Timepiece for the 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia.
Marking its fourth time as official partner of the exhibition since its first dedication in 2014, this year Rolex and La Biennale di Venezia unveil a special project at its pavilion in the Giardini. Following on from the theme, “How will we live together?” this years biennale will open up important conversations regarding the parallels between architecture and its relationship with society and political/economic inequalities. First designed in 2018, the Rolex pavilion in Giardini will play host to exhibit the work and renderings of architect Mariam Kamara, and her project development in Niamey, Niger working alongside the guidance of Rolex mentor Sir David Adjaye, in part of the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative.
“A lot of my practice has become an exercise in listening,” says architect Mariam Kamara. “It is important you consult before you pick up a pencil. I fundamentally believe that architecture is about people. We make space for people to inhabit, to socialize, to live in, to feel good in... In a country where 70 per cent of the population are illiterate, you might feel you didn’t belong there. So it was important to create a building that you could happen by and walk through. I wanted to create a continuous experience where you get transported from one world to another.”
Spanning nearly two decades, the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative has enabled dozens of young up and coming creative practitioners to thrive throughout respective disciplines. In further part to the showcase, the Rolex Pavilion will also exhibit a rendered representation of the new Rolex Italy headquarters in Milan with its refurbished and renewed designs by Milanese architects Onsitestudio. The 17th International Architecture Exhibition – La Biennale di Venezia will run from 22 May to 21 November 2021, with more information available on rolex.com.
