Za-HA!
Uzma pointed me to
Herbert's brief note on this year's Pritzker. It's not even patronizing, it's stupid. It's like he ran out of things to say, rambling from Iraqi-born to social welfare to cosmopolitanism. For example:
There's more to Baghdad than ancient glory and present strife, the jury appears to be saying. The old bazaar can still send up shoots of cosmopolitan greatness, even if they must be transplanted elsewhere to be nurtured.
I like Zaha's work, and she was due for the Pritzker. But it's a silly award. It must be a little sad to win the Pritzker; in fine print somewhere it must say, "You've peaked and will die before you do anything original again."
In that respect, Muschamp himself strikes me as Pritzker-worthy. His
Bookless in Bavaria article was just moronic.
[added 24mar]
But what else are you going to say about this year's Pritzker?
Christopher Hawthorne takes the opportunity to take the piss out of her:
But the truth is that Hadid's radicalism has been at least partially a front, more useful in sustaining her mysterious persona than in really suggesting anything valuable about her architecture.
And
The New Republic is apparently about to lose its shit over this award:
Her selection, no doubt influenced by her distinction as the most prominent woman in a field dominated by men, represents a fatal debasement of an award purportedly about rewarding excellence, not political correctness or trendiness.
Well, see for yourself
at the GSD April 7, 6:30. It will no doubt be another foolhaas.
* Ray, 3/23/2004 11:00:10 AM
