Zaha Hadid, a leading figure in contemporary architecture and the architect selected to design the main stadium for the Tokyo Olympics, will hold a solo exhibition at the Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery from October 18 to December 23. This exhibition, her first large-scale exhibition in Japan, will compile her past works and display them through models, blueprints, photographs, paintings, and more, providing a comprehensive introduction to her architectural philosophy. Born in Baghdad and living in London, Zaha established her own design firm in 1980. She gained worldwide recognition after winning first prize in a 1983 competition, recommended by architect Arata Isozaki. However, her designs, including this project, were avant-garde and defied the construction techniques and architectural thinking of the time. As a result, none of her designs were actually built for over a decade after she became independent, earning her the nickname "Queen of the Unbuilt." For this reason, she is considered a deconstructivist architect.
Her first project was finally realized in 1994. Since then, she has won numerous large-scale competitions and even completed construction projects. In 2004, she became the first woman and youngest recipient of the Pritzker Prize, architecture's Nobel Prize. She has since designed numerous large-scale works, including the Aquatics Centre for the London Olympics, the MAXXI National Museum of 21st Century Arts in Rome, and the Guangzhou Opera House in China. She currently has projects underway around the world, with 400 staff members working in 44 countries.
In Japan, she designed the interior of the Neil Barrett Aoyama store in Tokyo's Aoyama district. Following her win in the competition for the New National Stadium, the main stadium for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, construction has been confirmed. She is wearing a black, robe-like garment by Issey Miyake.
【Event Information】
Venue: Tokyo Opera City Art Gallery
Address: 3-20-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo
Dates: October 18th to December 23rd
Time: 11:00 to 19:00 (11:00 to 20:00 on Fridays and Saturdays / Last admission 30 minutes before closing)
Closed: Mondays (open on December 22nd)
Admission Fee: Adults 1,200 yen, University and High School Students 1,000 yen
