Since our initial discussion about BY and the project that would inaugurate the architecture gallery, I was reminded of a typical first day of classes where the teacher asks each student a question to introduce themselves. The diverse answers give a first impression of each person’s thought process. This introduction ritual, while not decisive, influences the relationships that may develop within the group.

Similarly, Prelude begins with a unifying question that serves as a common thread, weaving together the exhibited pieces and fostering dialogue. This question prompts exhibitors to reflect on the act of representation. Although architects often interpret this concept through standardized languages that universally convey the potential of built or constructible structures to a wide audience, here the question provokes a more personal response: How do you represent your thinking? By directing the inquiry towards the specificity of individual thought, it elicits responses shaped by unique languages and distinct morphemes.

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The result is a collection of pieces that diverge from the obvious references of represented architecture. Instead, we encounter prototypes of construction systems, interactive artifacts, recontextualized objects, large-scale process diagrams, collage or sketch studies, graphic notes adhering to specific guidelines, and restaged works of art. These varied forms of architectural production synthesize individual and collective thoughts, emerging from work teams where diverse knowledge converges.

By focusing on the processes preceding the final outcomes and directing our attention to the realm of thought, we encounter unprecedented languages that, when viewed in relation, highlight a diversity of epistemologies often overlooked. This exercise exemplifies one of many possible in a field still perceived as limited in its platforms for generating and promoting critical discourse. We hope that Prelude will be followed by other exhibition projects that pose stimulating questions and inspire new reflections on spatial issues.