On July 6th (Fri.), Diancan Art & Collection Ltd. (“ARTouch”) and Win Sing Development Co., Ltd. (“Win Sing”) worked together to organize the A Centennial Architect: Dahong Wang book launch and DH Café opening event. The book was curated by the Wang Dahong Institute for Building Research and Conservation and published by ARTouch. It includes articles by 18 architecture experts and scholars, presenting Dahong Wang’s life philosophy and architectural works from the four aspects of literature, architecture, former residences, and representation. Win Sing invited Chang Kang-Hua - director of the art troupe Co-Coism, which is currently putting on the immersive theater performance Walking to the Moon at the Wang Da Hong House Theatre - to host the event, along with other VIP guests such as Dahong Wang’s eldest son - architect Wang Shou-Cheng; Guo Chao-Li - President of the Taiwan Alliance for Architectural Modernity; Lin Ping - Director of the Taipei Fine Arts Museum; Chien Hsiu-Chih - President of ARTouch; and Win Sing’s General Manager Jenny Yeh.
Upholding the company’s devotion towards the development of culture and art, Win Sing officially established the Winsing Arts Foundation in 2018, hoping to bring local communities together, and create a unique urban landscape through the operation of art and cultural spaces. As one of the main sponsors of the reconstruction project for Dahong Wang’s Jianguo S. Road Residence, the first major project for Win Sing after establishing the Winsing Arts Foundation was the renovation and operation of DH Café. The café, which is located across from the Wang Da Hong House Theatre, is a clean and light rectangular structure that is also the work of architect Su Yu-Zhe. Large glass panels and solid wood windows, doors, and walls naturally allow light to filter in. The building’s outstretched roof creates a mirror reflection of the plants and people around the perimeter of the building, displaying contemporary architectural style in the flowing light and shadow, and creating a dialog with the classic residence. The building was once used by the Wang Dahong Institute for Building Research and Conservation to organize exhibitions. After taking over, the Winsing Arts Foundation expanded upon Dahong Wang’s style and tastes, reintroducing diverse elements like dining, bookstores, exhibitions, lectures, and cultural and creative products. The brand-new image allows visitors stepping into the space to experience different aspects of Dahong Wang’s life.
The 8.1-meter wide bookshelf indoors not only became an architectural art library that provides books for people to read and purchase, but also showcases many precious items from Dahong Wang’s collection. In particular, a model photography work called Moon Landing Monument features cut-and-paste handmade characters and model photography. The 173-centimeter-long poster is weathered by time and has a handmade feel. It is an everlasting memento. Winsing Arts Foundation also commissioned artist Tao Ya-Lun to create a VR installation of Moon Landing Monument, using virtual reality to recreate the classic piece and fulfill the poetic architect’s unfinished dream. This VR installation is the café’s first exhibition work and will be available for the public after the café officially opens. Going forward, the café will continue to host exhibitions with different themes, seminars, and film screenings, allowing visitors to better understand contemporary architectural aesthetics, culture, and art in their leisure time.
To ensure that Dahong Wang’s creative spirit is infused upon every element within the space, DH Café collaborated with postcard brand POSTCARD SHOP to create a collection of merchandises, inviting designer Cheng Pei-Che - who loves old-fashioned architecture and is adept at using delicate brush strokes to draw buildings - to illustrate different views of the Wang Da Hong Residence and his classic architectural masterpieces. 4 illustrations were selected and exhibited at the opening event, along with the debut of the latest Wang Da Hong Residence postcard, which will be exclusively sold at DH Café in the future.
By the end of the year, the new site on Sec. 6 Minquan East Road - Win Sing Art Place - will also create a unique art settlement in Neihu District. The birth of the bookstore not only shows Winsing Arts Foundation’s intention to promote reading, but also serves as a way for Win Sing to repay Neihu residents. Annual exhibitions, community lectures, and relevant educational courses are planned for the gallery space. Win Sing is eager to promote aesthetic education and achieve the integration of life and art along with the local community. Other than operating the space, the foundation will set its eyes on diverse fields of art and up-and-coming artists, or art and culture organizations. The foundation will allocate resources to support micro-scale research on Taiwan’s contemporary art and encourage artists through sponsorships.