Housing the Friendship

The exhibition, through architects and educators Alvin Boyarsky and John Hejduk, brings forth epic and allegorical narratives that cross the Atlantic, sharing their passion for architecture through teaching, exhibitions, and publishing, among other events. It has had a wide influence on the architectural landscape today. The exhibition is divided into nine chapters, centered on fifty-nine rare books, many of which are now out of print, and supplemented by another over two hundred publications. It meticulously reviews how John Hejduk, starting from his study of modernism, developed unique insights into design practice and architectural education. The exhibition presents his significant trilogy and personal collections, highlighting his career that span the fields of art and architecture and have spread globally.

The retrospective of Alvin Boyarsky starts from the classic AA Folios series he initiated, exploring various ways of learning architecture and conceptual experiments through drawings, exhibitions, media, and publications. The Text series published by Architectural Association School of Architecture for Hejduk as a theme links their collaboration and friendship. Through their abundant works and teaching enthusiasm, they profoundly influenced contemporary architects such as Zaha Hadid (1950-2016), Rem Koolhaas (1944-), and Shigeru Ban (1957-). At the opening event, Winsing Arts Foundation's Chairperson Jenny Yeh and curator Jr. Gang Chi discuss the concepts of this book exhibition and the collection. They conduct a special guided tour, opening the bookstore’s treasured publications in response to the exhibition’s theme of making friends through books. Additionally, collaborating with ta(Taiwan Architecture Magazine),  the exhibition is represented with articles in ta 2020 Vol.299 Epic and Prophecy of Architecture, hoping to inspire future architectural thinking and education.