Fondazione Prada's Venice exhibition explores the power of diagrams

At Ca' Corner della Regina in Venice, Fondazione Prada presents 'Diagrams', an exhibition curated by AMO/OMA, the research studio founded by Rem Koolhaas. Running parallel to the 19th International Architecture Exhibition, the show examines the diagram as a tool of visual communication, defined by Koolhaas as possessing an 'aura of objectivity' through its apparent neutrality. The exhibition features over 300 works spanning from the 12th century to contemporary digital productions, organized into nine thematic sections: Built Environment, Health, Inequality, Migration, Environment, Resources, War, Truth, and Value. Miuccia Prada, creative director of Prada, states the exhibition aligns with the foundation's research to foster critical understanding of the present. The display design uses dark backgrounds and careful lighting to create a meditative atmosphere. Koolhaas, who turned 80 in 2024, notes that the diagram's power lies in its ability to explain or persuade without words, applicable across fields from fashion to religion. He also acknowledges an ironic, playful component in the exhibition's approach, contrasting with the more linear narratives of recent Architecture Biennales.