Breaking Ground: Chinese American Architects in Los Angeles (1945-1980)\
January 19 - June 3, 2012
On view at the Chinese American Museum as a part of the Getty's Pacific Standard Time initiative.
Breaking Ground showcased the achievements of four pioneering Chinese American architects whose contributions were critical to the development of Los Angeles' urban and visual landscape between 1945 and 1980. While these architects remain largely absent from most critical treatments of architectural history, their designs are still gleaming landmarks from the Post-World War II years. As Los Angeles exponentially grew in size, scale, and prosperity during the Post-War years, these architects ingeniously responded to the demands of a growing city population by embracing—and defining — the vibrant spirit of a modern metropolis through the functions of urban, suburban, and highway developments
Occupying two galleries, Breaking Ground featured original and reproductions of photographs, blueprints, renderings, and drawings of works produced by the featured architects. Exhibit highlights included six three-dimensional stereoscopic slides of landmark Googie buildings by Jack Laxer; nine original photographs by acclaimed architectural photographer Julius Shulman, and a hands-on Design-Your-Own-Dream-Home gallery interactive where visitors were encouraged to envision and create their ideal home using materials provided by the museum.
The four architects featured in this exhibit:
Eugene Choy
Gilbert Leong
Helen Liu Fong
Gin Wong
