Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2019 Explores Beauty's Resurgence

Curated by Yael Reisner, the Tallinn Architecture Biennale 2019 (TAB 2019) runs until November 17 in Tallinn, Estonia, under the theme "Beauty Matters: the resurgence of beauty." Reisner, who co-authored the 2010 book "Architecture and Beauty, A Conversation about a Troubled Relationship" with Fleur Watson, examines the neglected concept of beauty in architecture and design. The biennale, promoted by the Estonian Centre for Architecture, features five main events: a curatorial exhibition with eight international firms analyzing beauty through the lens of housing; a symposium; a competition; the "Terribly Beautiful" exhibition surveying architecture schools; and an installation program forming an urban path. Reisner argues that the word "beauty" has been culturally avoided for nearly eighty years across fields from visual arts to politics, yet remains the first criterion for judging architecture's aesthetic experience. She connects the renewed interest in beauty to the recognition of human judgment in the digital age, stating that "post digital architecture" acknowledges human roles in design and technology. The biennale includes conferences, cultural events, and film screenings.