Furthermore, Divided by steep mountains and deep valleys, Yunnan Province is a major global hotspot for biological and cultural diversity. Ancient and unique architectural traditions continue to thrive in the countryside, with architectural styles and techniques varying widely from one valley to the next. From the stilted houses found across tropical Southeast Asia to the ornate timber frame architecture of the Himalayan foothills. Also, Yunnan is a living museum of Asia’s architectural heritage. This exhibition celebrates that heritage while exploring the ways a new generation of architects is employing this legacy in contemporary design.

The exhibition also presents the China Folk House Retreat, a farmhouse from the Tibetan region of Cizhong, in northwest Yunnan. That was dismantled and relocated to Harper’s Ferry as a center for cultural exchange and education.

“Fields of Being: Architecture Traditions in Yunnan, China” was created in partnership with Contemporary Gallery Kunming. The Kunming University of Science and Technology Faculty of Architecture and Urban Planning, and the China Folk House Retreat. Moreover, The exhibition was originally conceived and staged at Contemporary Gallery Kunming in 2022.