At the Milan Design Week which opened on September 5, 2021, MAD led by Ma Yansong presented three new works - the art installation "Freedom", the "Meteor", a reinterpretation of Dior's classic oval-back chair, and the "Gu Table" in collaboration with Italian furniture brand Sawaya & Moroni.

“Freedom”

Invited by the Italian magazine Interni, MAD, the public space installation “Freedom” was exhibited at Milan Design Week 2021. This is the second time that MAD has exhibited new work in the Cortile d’Onore courtyard of the University of Milan, following the 2016 work “Boundless”.

In the post-epidemic era, "Freedom" symbolizes our common desire to restart a new life. Artist Ma Yansong explained the meaning of the work: "If we are seeking freedom or establishing connections with others, we should go beyond physical or intangible space and transcend limitations."

The installation under the courtyard arch presents a seabird ready to take off and fly far away, which reminds people of the human expectation of starting over in the current uncertain epidemic era.

Seabirds, as a symbol of freedom, borderlessness and tolerance, also appear in the FENIX Immigration Museum designed by MAD. The project is located in Rotterdam, the Netherlands and is expected to be completed in 2025.

The installation is composed of metal profiles fabricated by Eurostands and covered with LED strips provided by Ledvance, allowing it to glow at night.

Date: September 5–10, 2021
Location: Cortile d’Onore, University of Milan
Design Team: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano, Andrea D’Antrassi, Alessandro Fisalli, Elena Bellocchio, Francesco Nardacci

“Meteor（流星）”

At the invitation of Dior Maison, Ma Yansong reinterpreted Dior’s iconic Medallion Chair in a new work titled Meteor. The design is fluid and dynamic, evoking a futuristic sense of motion like a journey through time and space.

Crafted from monochromatic 3D-printed polyurethane, the chair blends organic sensibility with structural volume, resonating emotionally while embodying Ma Yansong’s architectural and artistic philosophy. Carefully balanced in scale and form, the piece engages in a dialogue with nature, resulting in a design that transcends time.

Date: September 5–10, 2021
Location: Palazzo Citterio, Via Brera 12, Milan
Design Team: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano, Zeng Hao

“Gu Table（骨桌）”

Following the 2018 release of the Gu Chair, MAD has continued its collaboration with Italian furniture design brand Sawaya & Moroni to unveil a new piece: the Gu Table. As a natural extension of the Gu Chair, the Gu Table draws inspiration from the human skeletal structure. Its fluid, elongated curves evoke a sense of continuous movement.

Together, the two pieces resemble the graceful contours of the human body and the flowing lines of a natural landscape. The use of wood and sculptural form gives the table the presence of an art piece. Seamless joints across all components enhance the impression of an organically growing structure.

Date: September 5–10, 2021
Location: Sawaya & Moroni Gallery, Via Clerici 1, Milan
Design Team: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano, Andrea D'Antrassi, Anna Spaggiari