Human Extensions: Living Cell

Andreea Ilie is an artist who draws inspiration from the inherent connection between architecture and the human psyche. Her work captures the essence of social buildings and common spaces, emphasizing their profound influence on the modern individual. Through her works, she tries to unveil the true purpose of these spaces and underline the vital importance of collective experiences, combating the profound sense of alienation that can permeate our lives when we feel disconnected from ourselves and others.

In a world where each element of social housing becomes a meticulously crafted artifact, Andreea Ilie decides to delve into an exploration of form, function, and socialist ideals. Architects, exemplified by the visionary Ricardo Bofill, reimagine social housing as more than mere utilitarian structures; they become canvases reflecting the intricacies of societal values, covering and protecting individuals. This narrative, intertwined with the medium of ceramics, transforms fragmented building parts into living artifacts, each with a distinctive story. Architectural choices transcend their immediate functionality. They become intricate narratives that echo the broader societal structures and aspirations. This project becomes a medium that not only captures the physical essence of social housing but elevates these fragments into pieces with a purpose within the built environment. The intentional separation of ceramic objects becomes a representation of alienation, mirroring the fragmented nature of contemporary life. Each individual piece, a solitary cell, bears witness to the isolating forces of modernity. The deliberate act of separating these entities also signifies the societal divisions often perpetuated by capitalist structures — fragmented and detached. Yet, the meticulous reassembly of these cells emerges as a transformative act, a visual metaphor for the potential of community, solidarity, and shared identity within the framework of socialist ideals. The act of bringing these fragments together, beyond a physical reconstruction, symbolizes a collective reclamation of societal unity. As the ceramic entities converge to recreate the larger structure, they breathe life into the building. The project presents reality and the buildings in their purest form, lacking any context, exhibiting raw meaning as well as capturing contradiction, repetition, and roughness. You lunge into this flat system that rearranges and reinterprets architecture as we perceive it, allowing you to fully comprehend its ultimate social purpose — connecting humans and human to the living cell.