Home
Talks
What is: Brutalism?
What is: Brutalism?
One might consider Brutalism as the 'marmite' of architectural history: it is a style that is systematically loathed and revered. HRH Prince Charles once compared one of the icons of Brutalism, Britain's National Theatre, to a nuclear power station. A strong reaction to the hulking concrete edifice... But is that the point?
Learn about some of the key facets and figures of Brutalist history with Professor Richard J. Williams.
Time Period:
20th century
Themes:
Richard J. Williams is Professor of Contemporary Visual Cultures at the University of Edinburgh where he has worked since 2000. Before that, he studied fine art at Goldsmiths College, and history of art at the University of Manchester. His work deals mainly with modern and contemporary architecture and urban theory; the representation of cities in film and TV is a major interest. His books include, The Anxious City (2004), Brazil: Modern Architectures in History (2009), Sex and Buildings (2013), The Architecture of Art History (with Mark Crinson, 2018) and Why Cities Look the Way They Do (2018). He is currently writing a book about the architectural historian and critic Reyner Banham.
Watch More
Watch More
15:47
Building Brasília
'To create an entirely new capital, from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, was an extraordinarily ambitious thing to try and do...' Prof. Richard J. Williams.
12:30
City of Fantasies: Reyner Banham and the Architecture of LA
Prof. Richard Williams explores the lure of Los Angeles.
1:07
1 Minute 1 Work: Abstract No. 2
Barbican Curator Eleanor Nairne traces the rhythms of Lee Krasner’s ‘jewel-like’ painting.
15:47
Building Brasília
'To create an entirely new capital, from scratch, in the middle of nowhere, was an extraordinarily ambitious thing to try and do...' Prof. Richard J. Williams.
12:30
City of Fantasies: Reyner Banham and the Architecture of LA
Prof. Richard Williams explores the lure of Los Angeles.
1:07
1 Minute 1 Work: Abstract No. 2
Barbican Curator Eleanor Nairne traces the rhythms of Lee Krasner’s ‘jewel-like’ painting.
15:48
Gerhard Richter: Drawings
‘The drawings are traces of a life, creating territories in relation to limits and potentials. Communications transmitted to whoever will regard them.’ — Prof. Michael Newman
9.26
Making Magic: Inspiring Children with Art
See how ‘Magic Matt’ inspires a group of Hackney schoolchildren with the power of art in this dynamic art history workshop on the theme of 'winter'.
17:36
Isabel Rawsthorne Rediscovered: The Poetry in Things
Curator Carol Jacobi shines a light on the career of artist Isabel Rawsthorne (1912 – 1992), “a missing link of 20th century art”.