A Confederacy of Heretics: Venice 1979 Architecture Exhibition

A Confederacy of Heretics: The Architecture Gallery, Venice 1979, SCI-Arc Gallery Exhibition Design project, created by the renowned architectural studio Zago Architecture, delved into a series of groundbreaking spatial experiments conducted by Los Angeles architects during the early 1970s to the mid-1980s. This captivating exhibition took inspiration from nine one-week exhibitions that were initially held in Thom Mayne's Architecture Gallery in 1979.

The exhibition was thoughtfully curated and showcased in two galleries at SCI-Arc. The second-floor Library Gallery served as a starting point, housing a documentary presentation of the 1979 shows and presenting an array of meticulously crafted models and drawings. As visitors moved downstairs to the main Gallery, they were greeted with a vast collection of architectural works that formed the core of the exhibition.

To create a coherent visual experience, the exhibition employed a clever organization. The main Gallery featured diagrams, skillfully prepared by Zago Architecture and displayed throughout the space. These diagrams arranged the exhibited works based on a taxonomy of increasingly complex spatial projections, such as parallel projection, perspective, plan rotation, flat projection, sectional rotation, graphic wrap, and eccentric projection.

The two galleries were skillfully divided into five separate exhibition areas by three distinct free-standing shaped walls. The geometry employed in each area closely followed the progression of the spatial projections. Notably, the concept of a graphic wrap was utilized to create unique entry points into each gallery. Visitors were welcomed by impressive folded enlargements of graphic work from the show, providing a captivating introduction to the immersive experience that awaited them.

In a nod to the innovative nature of the exhibited works, Zago Architecture designed exhibition tables using ordinary building materials. These tables were ingeniously constructed with just two sheets of gypsum board, folded and assembled using construction adhesive. This design choice showcased the studio's commitment to expressing the essence of the exhibited works in every aspect of the exhibition, down to the very materials used to present them.

The A Confederacy of Heretics: The Architecture Gallery, Venice 1979, SCI-Arc Gallery Exhibition Design project by Zago Architecture was a testament to the visionary talent of Los Angeles architects during a pivotal era. This thoughtfully curated exhibition not only paid homage to the groundbreaking spatial experiments of the time but also showcased the studio's ingenuity in creating a captivating and immersive visual experience for visitors. From the carefully arranged taxonomy of spatial projections to the innovative use of quotidian building materials, this exhibition truly left a lasting impression on all who had the opportunity to explore it.

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