Boyarsky oversaw the blossoming of some of the greatest talent in contemporary architectural history - largely a testament to his steadfast advocacy for experiment and his ability to nurture creativity. He received the 44 pieces in the show from John Hejduk, Frank Gehry, Daniel Libeskind, Zaha Hadid, Rem Koolhaas, Lebbeus Woods, Eduardo Paolozzi, Coop Himmelblau, Bernard Tschumi, Superstudio, and Archigram's Michael Webb and David Greene, to name just a few.
These works, which showcase an astonishing range of techniques, styles, and philosophies, reflect not just the flourishing of the groundbreaking school, but a time of unprecedented ingenuity, particularly in drawing, which arguably reached its pinnacle (and perhaps the pinnacle of artistic freedom in architecture, before software began to dictate aesthetic and practical choices) in this time just before the dawn of the digital age.
While the exhibition does contain a few technically-inspired pieces, such as Tschumi's striking sketches for La Villette in Paris and Hadid's study for the Irish Prime Minister's residence in Dublin, most of the depictions dive deep into alternate urban worlds, mega-structures, abstracted buildings, mashed-up landscapes, and visual manifestos. At times their sensibilities merge with Pop Art, collage, Cubism, Futurism, Hi-Tech, Russian Constructivism, or Japanese ukiyo-e.
Drawing Ambience also includes plates from AA publications containing these artworks, and construction photos of large-scale installations (by Hedjuk, Mary Miss, and Coop Himmelblau) in nearby Bedford Square during Boyarsky's tenure. Most of the drawings were exhibited at the school shortly after they were created, but with few exceptions this is the first time they've been accessible to a wider audience. '
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