During the three day graduation exhibition between 6/16 and 6/18 organized by the Department of Architecture, several experts from Hong Kong and China Mainland were invited to assess the designs of TKU’s soon to be graduates. This is the first time the department has ever invited judges from abroad so as to offer fresh perspectives to TKU students, according to Wu Kwang-tyng, the Chair of the department. He mentioned that these judges were impressed by the creativity and diversity of his students’ works.

Works at the exhibition were a labor of love that had been created over a year’s time, usually under the supervisor of a faculty member from the department. As a general rule, students in this discipline study for five years with the last year entirely devoted to creating a representative work as a partial fulfillment of the degree.

At the exhibition, outgoing students were at hand to explain to judges and visitors their design and the philosophy behind their work. They also needed to answer any piercing questions the judges threw at them in order to get a satisfactory grade to graduate. Those students whose works are given a thumb up by the judges will go on to display their works at the 2008 New Architects Awards for China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan regions on June 14 and 15.

The works at display are not limited to traditional miniature models. Chen You Shen, for instance, in fact built a house in San-chi, a town nearby Dansui, for his parents, as his graduation work. To him, preparing for this exhibition is not a beginning nor an end to anything, but a process for him to look for answers about architecture and its relations with people and nature. As for Shai Wen Hou, he made a documentary showing his life growing up in Taipei and his search for what Taipei stands for through architecture. He also interviewed his friends and classmates to lend the film diverse perspectives on Taipei, through which he learned to see the city he thought he knew very well in a new light.

Comments received from judges and visitors are all positive. One of the overseas judges, Professor Chu Tao from Hong Kong University, was deeply impressed by the genuine concerns of the urban environments the works embody. A unique feature he dose not often find in other countries, he said. Chen Yi-zhi, a third year student from the department, similarly, was touched by the dedication her senior students demonstrated through their works and how they stay honest to their beliefs. Chen Ting Yuan, another second year student, added that she was totally inspired by the exhibition. ( ~Ying-hsueh Hu )