The exhibition "Ma Yansong: Flowing Earth" opened at the Shenzhen Contemporary Art and Urban Planning Museum (two museums in Shenzhen).

On October 12, 2023, the exhibition held a series of theme forums in the two museums. Ma Yansong, Liu Xiaodu, Zhu Rongyuan, Wang Zigeng, Hayano Yosuke, Dang Qun, Yan Weixin, Fei Dawei, Shen Wei, Xichuan, Wang Jianwei, Weng Ling, Chen Youjian, Sun Jiwei, Zhu Zheqin, Sun Qian, Shirley Surya, Zhang Yuxing and other 17 guests brought the audience three wonderful forums including "The Publicity of Cities and Architecture", "Flowing Art" and "Cultural Cross-border". The content of the forum is about cities, architecture, art and literature, expanding the topic of architecture to all aspects related to life. (Full review of the forum, please pay attention to follow-up reports)

"Ma Yansong: Flowing Earth" is the first solo exhibition of a contemporary architect held by the two museums since their completion. As the largest, most detailed and most important exhibition since the founding of MAD , it presents 52 important projects of MAD in the past 20 years in a three-dimensional manner in an exhibition space of more than 3,000 square meters.

The exhibition hopes to open up discussions and reflections on the interconnected relationships among cities, communities, architecture, humanities, and nature by displaying and asking questions about content in different dimensions, allowing the public to explore their own hearts while also expanding their imaginations about future life and cities.

The exhibition preface written by Ma Yansong: "Architecture and cities are not abstract science and technology, but real scenes of life. Architecture is about feelings, atmosphere and time. Architecture is alive and has the characteristics of life. Therefore, it is full of energy: flowing, dynamic and uncertain. As a man-made object, architecture is an externalization and extension of human inner self at the tool and art level, reflecting our attitude towards the outside world, history and the future. The subjective and different externalization process produces diverse voices, interpreting the best appearance of harmonious resonance."

The exhibition presents 52 projects in four chapters, namely "Dialogue", "Process", "Feeling is Reality" and "Fantasy", to truly and comprehensively display the design works that best represent the core and vision of MAD. Nearly half of the exhibited content is materials that have never been disclosed to the public, including manuscripts and research reports from the design concept and conceptual design stage; the evolution of drawings during the in-depth design process; sample simulations and visual records of the construction process, etc.

The exhibition begins with a huge round table covered with questions. Nearly one hundred past and present MAD colleagues ask questions to the public. The questions are about cities, architecture, daily life, the future, and dreams. It is hoped that through each question, the public will be encouraged to participate in the exhibition, thereby creating opportunities for continuous, extensive, and in-depth dialogue.

The first chapter of the exhibition, “Dialogue”, uses seven urban public projects, including Shenzhen Bay Cultural Plaza, Harbin Grand Theater, FENIX Immigration Art Museum in Rotterdam, Quzhou Sports Park, Yiwu Grand Theater, Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles, and Freedom, to ask citizens questions such as “Can architecture push the boundaries of society?”, “What kind of city makes you feel happy?”, and “What will China’s future cities look like?”

Chapter 2, “Process,” showcases MAD’s ongoing and completed projects, including the Zhongguancun permanent headquarters, Hainan Science and Technology Museum, Jiaxing Railway Station, and Absolute Towers, attempting to showcase MAD’s various practices: the future of the city stems from the imagination of the layers of urban reality.

Chapter 3, "Feeling is Reality", presents 15 sets of design and land art projects, including Light Tunnel, Earth Lamp, and Super Star. Architecture is not only about walls and ground, but also about "emptiness", which exists in the atmosphere and perception it creates. Existence is not real, but feeling is real.

Chapter 4, "Rhapsody", showcases 12 projects including Beijing 2050, Hutong Bubbles, and Floating Island, creating a rhapsody about the city. Each work reflects the architect's thinking and criticism of the city's reality. As Ma Yansong said, "MAD's work is like a rhapsody. MAD itself means crazy, expressing rebellion, and also means opposing a single rule, correct goals, boring forms, and monotonous language. We are more interested in responding to the colorful real world with rich, abundant, and pure emotions."

"Ma Yansong: Flowing Earth"
September 29 to December 17
Shenzhen Contemporary Art and Urban Planning Museum, first floor comprehensive exhibition hall

Organizational structure:
Guiding unit: Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports, Shenzhen Municipal Bureau of Planning and Natural Resources
Organizer: Shenzhen Contemporary Art and Urban Planning Museum
Organizer: MAD
Supporting unit: Shenzhen Futian District Bureau of Culture, Radio, Television, Tourism and Sports
Exhibiting artist: Ma Yansong
General planner: Yan Weixin
Special thanks: Dang Qun, Hayano Yosuke
Exhibition thanks: Liu Huiying, Li Jian, Fu Changrui, Dixon Lu, Flora Lee, Tiffany Dahlen, Andrea D'Antrassi
Exhibition Director: Yang Kun, Qi Ziying
Exhibition Presentation: Zheng Chengwen, Xue Teng, Cao Chen, Huang Juntao, Tan Miao, Miao Fangyi, Shang Li, Zhang Zhonglin, Li Leyuan
Curating Team: Li Ran, Zhu Yuanlong, Cai Yixuan, Ma Zhiyue
Exhibition Coordinator: Zhou Ning, Zhang Wenqiao
Exhibition Producer: Sun Baoping, Liang Jinwei
Exhibition Operation: Yan Yulan, Zhang Yun, Li Xiaoyu, Zhang Junrong, Liao Danyu, Xue Xintian, Cheng Yan
Exhibition Business: Lv Jiheng, Jiang Kuo, Yu Qiannan
Publicity and Public Relations: Xie Xiaozhang, Liu Danyang, Ji Ruixue, Meizong Taidong Communication Consultant

Exhibition Support:
Special Co-operation: Guojiao 1573
Co-sponsors: North Glass, Unilumin Technology
Full support: Yihuida, Intermate, Engada
Joint presentation: Jingyida Model, Qizhiyi Model

Co-presentation:
Graphic design: One Thousand Times
Exhibition construction: Beijing Tiandi Zhongxing International Trade Co., Ltd.
Lighting consultant: RDI Rui International Lighting Design
Lighting debugging: Shanghai Fuliang Intelligent Technology Co., Ltd.
Printing support: White Wall Visual Imaging Art Shenzhen Co., Ltd.
Some documentary photos: China Photographic Documentation Institute (SACP)
Photography: TAL+Bai Yu, Youfang Space