In Search of Lost Time ——Space, Time, Et cetera
Recently, a group of architects, designers and architectural amateurs gathered in Shangen Music and Art Village for an exhibition In Search of Lost Time which mainly focusing on the concept of “time”.
This exhibition is a retrospective of the architectural and design work of Vincent Peu Duvallon, French architect and professor of architecture at Wenzhou-Kean University, around the theme of time and space design. It features non-site installation, photographs exhibition, architectural drawings and models, and furniture. Each part of the exhibition is organized around one or two key-words but moreover, the exhibition design itself is the key medium of this exhibition. Each part of the exhibition addresses the question of time in a different way.
“If architecture is commonly understood as the art of designing spaces, I believe that design has more to do with time, duration, rhythm, memory, planning and thinking the future.” Vincent wrote these words in the exhibition brochure. He would like to discuss the issue of time in architectural practice through this exhibition.
Vincent said that “time” was always the blind spot of architecture. “On one hand we know that architects have this will to build to achieve timelessness, on the other hand they barely about the duration, like what will happen after their buildings are done.” He told that he had been exploring time at different levels in his own practice. “I want to explore the rhythm of design at different temporal scales: exhibition design which is the most temporary, interior design which is less temporary, and architecture which last longer even if we can see that it becomes different after few years. I want to stress the temporary character of the built environment.” With its materials and its design, the exhibition itself raises the question of time in architecture practice and stress the temporary character of the event. Therefore, visitors could see that construction site woods and boxes of gravels were used as the main installation.
It is worth mentioning that the curatorial executive team lead by Wang Qinshuo, College Assistant of the School of Architecture and Design, composed of three students from the Architecture Program, Zhang Miao, Xu Jiayi and Zhao Ruzhen, started the process of curating, planning and designing in mid-August. They were mainly responsible for brochure translation, design and curation, construction management and so on. In the process of arranging the exhibition, they also gave Vincent some great inspirations and suggestions. According to the four themes of the exhibition, they proposed to set the exhibition booth at four different heights, which was approved by Vincent. For these three students, participating in the exhibition for the first time was really a challenge. They said that drawings were no longer just drawings on the computer, but more standardized construction drawings that must be understood and effectively implemented by the builders. Xu Jiayi said that the experience of this exhibition arrangement made her clear the various processes of an exhibition from planning to landing. Zhang Miao said that this experience helped her get more internship opportunities.
The exhibition will open to public 24/7 until November 1st. Welcome to visit Shangen Music and Art Village.
Writer:Yoki Chen
