Yung Ho Chang and FCJZ: Material-ism, UCCA, Beijing

Yung Ho Chang, a pioneer of contemporary chinese architecture, presents his first retrospective at UCCA, Beijing. The exhibition, that includes over six installations, 40 models and 270 drawings, will open on Sunday 30 September. Celebrating the cross disciplinary work of the architect, Chang and his practice, Feichang Jianzhu (FCJZ), will transform UCCA’s Great Hall into six coutryard-like modules inspired by the “hutong”, the traditional Chinese neighbourhood network of narrow alleys between tile-roofed courtyard houses.

Each module takes a different facet of Chang’s work and also includes several of FCJZ’s art installations, besides two previously unseen films. As one of the first Chinese architects to emerge on the international culuture scene, Yung Ho Chang was the first to head up a major department of architecture in an internationl university and served as dean of Architecture at MIT 2003-2009, inspiring and mentoring a new generation of talent.

Commenting on the new exhibition, the Director of UCCA, Philip Tinari said, “Yung Ho Chang is one of China’s most important architectural pioneers and over the last 30 years of unprecedented growth in China, his practice FCJZ have devised a range of witty, thoughtful and universal design solutions inspired by distinctly Chinese problems and concepts. Design can have an incredible impact on the predicament of people and to everyday urban life. I am thrilled that UCCA is presenting the first retrospective for Yung Ho Chang who is considered the father of contemporary Chinese architecture.”

Yung Ho Chang and FCJZ: Material-sim, September 30 until December 2, UCCA, 798 Art District, No. 4 Jiuxianqiao Lu, Chaoyang District, Beijing, China 100015

Credits
1.Shanghai Corporate Pavilion, Shanghai World Expo, 2010, courtesy of Atelier FCJZ and Nic Lehoux.