The Living Bucentaur: A Collective Art Performance

The Living Bucentaur is a large-scale collective art performance marking the MIT School of Architecture + Planning’s move into the historic Metropolitan Storage Warehouse.

The work reimagines MIT’s historic Bucentaur, the ceremonial barge created in 1916 when the Institute moved from Boston to Cambridge. Now, 110 years later, the boat returns on land, formed by more than 250 students, faculty, and staff walking together as one moving body.

Developed through months of collective making, the procession brings together sailcloth angels, jellyfish umbrellas, water-bucket drums, giant Carnyx horns, clapping books, architectural costumes, flags, and hand-cut oyster lace.

Its destination is itself part of Cambridge history. The Metropolitan Storage Warehouse was constructed in phases beginning in 1894, more than twenty years before MIT moved to Cambridge. The historic brick landmark has now been transformed through adaptive reuse as a new home for architecture, art, design, and planning.

The public is warmly invited to come watch and witness. Best viewing is from the lawn or steps of the MIT Student Center as the procession moves toward Kresge Auditorium.

The Living Bucentaur is a collective artwork conceived and directed by artist and MIT professor Azra Aksamija, developed with her students, and created collaboratively with members of the MIT School of Architecture + Planning community.