Hélène Binet, John Hejduk, The Riga Project: Object/Subject, Philadelphia, United States

Talk

Masques and meaning

John Hejduk and teaching

Wednesday 23 March 2022 7 - 8.15pm

Collections Gallery, Burlington Gardens, Royal Academy of Arts

£15, £9

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John Hejduk

Go to the exhibition

Join us for a panel discussion exploring the work of late American architect John Hejduk whose extraordinary drawings and imaginary worlds transformed the teaching of architecture.

To coincide with the opening of the first architecture display in the McAulay Gallery, John Hejduk: London Masque, our panellists come together for a discussion on the celebrated architect’s distinctive ideas on education.

For this display, the RA brings to life the Widow’s House, one of the cartoon-like structures in Hejduk’s 1982 Lancaster / Hanover Masque. Appearing part-building and part-animal, these structures were pedagogical tools for Hejduk, who used them as mysterious, often paradoxical objects and drawings to inspire and provoke his students. Not only were they narrative prompts, they were also practical tools that students at architecture schools around the world built together, learning collaboration and making.

Inspired by his approach, we invite our panellists to discuss their interpretation of Hejduk’s methods in their teaching and reflect on how these pedagogical experiments can enrich and inspire the way we think about architecture today. The evening will begin with an introduction to John Hejduk’s work and approaches by RA Head of Architecture Vicky Richardson, followed by a panel discussion. There will be ample time for questions at the end of the event.

Please note this event will be held in person in the Collections Gallery.

Speakers

Ricardo Flores and Eva Prats, founders of award-winning architecture studio Flores & Prats based in Barcelona. Both have taught, published and exhibited internationally and in 2000 created a installation and published a book inspired by Hejduk's work titled John Hejduk: House for a Poet.

Shin Egashira is Unit Master at the Architectural Association who's research interests include the roles of arts and architecture in the current social climate and interior landscape of the city.

Vicky Richardson (chair) Head of Architecture and Drue Heinz Curator at the Royal Academy of Arts.

£15, £9

Friends of the RA book first

Join now