02. Purpose

Nicole Rivera
Apr 16, 2019
2 min read

As with some other trips I have taken, I get a lot of questions as to "WHY" I am traveling where I am going. Why am I headed to Eastern Europe today? My answer to you is the following:

WHY NOT?

I was born with the itch and passion to explore- so today I am off on another adventure.

My interest in this trip arose last year when I found it on AO. I thought to myself - "Self-you need to go on a trip like that some time" The trip was already booked full so I signed up on the waiting list mostly for shits and giggles as I thought it was a slim chance I'd make the cut.

Brutalist Architecture has always been fascinating to me both conceptually and aesthetically. In architecture school I went through history class after history class catching glimpses of massive yet elegant concrete masses dominating the landscape and offering fodder for contemplation and wonder.

Today I am setting an intention. To be curious, be adventurous, live fully, and of course draw draw draw. In the sketchbook so accurately titled "WHY NOT" I will document this trip in as many ways I can think of. I hope to come hope with a rich artifact of both my architectural and personal journey this Spring. Newness is all around us and I plan to take advantage of this enriching season.

In a not so coincidental way, this sketchbook has already been introduced to the Spomeniks and Architecture of Eastern Europe. Last November I visited NYC and learned from a good friend that the MoMA had an exhibit called "TOWARD A CONCRETE UTOPIA" This huge exhibit displayed photos, models, drawings, and design work from what used to be Yugoslavia. I was beyond thrilled to spend way too long at the museum getting a full dose of this rich culture and moment in history, I'll continue this investigation these next two weeks and really cant wait to have all this come full circle.

See you in Serbia!

Ziveli!