Emotion in Architecture: Ma Yansong’s Vision Unveiled at Rotterdam’s Nieuwe Instituut
Ma Yansong Brings Organic Architecture to Life in Rotterdam
The Nieuwe Instituut in Rotterdam has opened the doors to Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion, a striking exhibition that celebrates the expressive and visionary work of Chinese architect Ma Yansong and his firm, MAD Architects. Through an immersive array of models, multimedia, and sketches, the exhibition traces Ma’s design journey from early speculative ideas to his signature flowing, naturalistic structures.Early Works and Conceptual Breakthroughs
The exhibition begins with a look at MAD’s early 2000s projects, during a time when China’s cities were rapidly transforming. Here, visitors encounter Ma’s conceptual pieces such as the 800 Metre Tower, a canopy proposal for the former World Trade Center site, and a unique aquarium inspired by a fish’s perspective. These works already hinted at his desire to move beyond rigid design traditions.Shanshui Philosophy and Nature as Architecture
The narrative then shifts into Ma’s adoption of shanshui, a classical Chinese concept meaning “mountain-water,” which merges philosophy, nature, and emotion. The section titled Embodied Nature illustrates how MAD integrates landscape and symbolism into their designs, turning buildings into emotional landscapes rather than purely functional structures.Human Connection in Futuristic Forms
Despite often being described as futuristic, Ma’s architecture is deeply rooted in the human experience. Featured projects like the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art in Los Angeles and the Fenix Museum in Rotterdam showcase his use of hand-drawn sketches, a method that preserves intimacy and emotion in the design process.An interactive AI installation invites visitors to experience this process themselves—transforming their own sketches into structures inspired by MAD’s organic aesthetic, evoking Ma’s famous Tornado drawing created for the Fenix Museum.
A Global Stage for Chinese Architectural Innovation
“This is more than just an exhibition,” said Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director of the Nieuwe Instituut. “It’s a statement about the international influence of contemporary Chinese architecture. Ma Yansong and MAD have created a body of work that blends tradition, futurism, and personal expression—and it deserves to be seen in a global context.”This exhibition marks Ma’s first solo museum show outside of China in over a decade and has already been extended through October 12, 2025, due to high demand. Visitors will also have the rare opportunity to hear from the architect directly during the “An Evening With…” event on June 26, where Ma Yansong will discuss his design approach and vision.
Ma Yansong: Architecture and Emotion is now open at the Nieuwe Instituut, inviting the public to experience architecture not just as space—but as emotion rendered in form.
Location:
Nieuwe Instituut
Museumpark 25, 3015 EK
Rotterdam, Netherlands
