An absolutely insanely private, esoteric conversation with Thom Mayne
Distinguished professor Thom Mayne presents ‘M,’ a monograph by Morphosis.
Distinguished professor Thom Mayne is one of the world’s leading architects. He founded Morphosis as a collective architectural practice engaged in cross-disciplinary research and design, which currently employs over 50 architects and designers. Throughout his career, Mayne has received numerous honors and awards, was elected to membership in the American Academy of Arts and Letters, appointed to the President’s Committee on the Arts and Humanities, and honored with the American Institute of Architects /Los Angeles Gold Medal. He helped to found the Southern California Institute of Architecture, the L.A. Now and Madrid Now initiatives, and currently holds the position as Executive Director of the Now Institute at UCLA, a research and design initiative focusing on applying strategic urban thinking to real world issues.
His story is one of jazz, sex, and the alienation of singular genius. It’s about growing up alone and then embracing a society that was blossoming with artistic possibility. It’s about watching movements – modernism, an alarmingly radical political right – rise and fall and rise again over the course of five decades of practice. It’s about falling in and out of love with people but staying true to his work, and refusing to do what others expect, even when the money is tempting. Fundamentally, it’s about being an artist in the architectural realm.
At least, this is the nuanced (and lengthy) story 72-year-old Thom Mayne wanted to tell me, and did tell me, as we sat in his studio’s upstairs conference room. Mayne shifted fluidly between the first person “I” and the second-person “you” as he mapped out his narrative, only to conclude by completely disavowing the idea of narratives altogether. He spoke about how the Vals hotel project featured in ‘M’ has changed the way Morphosis conceives of putting together future presentations. He touched on how the firm is approaching the Pershing Square redesign competition in downtown Los Angeles, and his steadfast commitment, going forward, to only take on the work he really wants to do. He detailed how any architect who is passionate about her work will invariably have to learn to manage anger, disappointment, and frustration. This abridged transcript of our conversation focuses on the concept and story behind the monograph, although we also briefly discuss how to remain optimistic in an incredibly tough profession (as well as Mayne's favorite Jim Carrey mantra), all in the context of putting together ‘M.’ — ***AUTHOR'S NAME***, ***ARTICLE DATE***
Read the full article at the Archinect website.