The visionary work of Ma Yansong and MAD Architects at the New Institute

Fenix, the new art museum on migration in Rotterdam, will open on 16 May. MAD Architects, led by Ma Yansong, designed the eye-catcher on the building: the Tornado. On 17 May, the Nieuwe Instituut will open the exhibition Ma Yansong. Architecture and emotion exploring the Chinese architect's pioneering architectural vision.

MAD Architects was founded in 2004 by Ma Yansong with Dang Qun and Yosuke Hayano. The firm is changing contemporary architecture by creating profound connections between people, nature and emotion.

With offices in Los Angeles, Rome and Beijing, MAD continues to push the boundaries of contemporary architecture by shaping a future where design is not merely functional, but enhances individual experience and stimulates the senses. The exhibition showcases Ma's ideas and methods: from his critique of modernism and globalisation to his bold, fluid designs. The exhibition is a multisensory experience that stimulates the senses and emotions through dynamic models, artistic interpretations and multimedia installations. It bridges the gap between MAD's pioneering designs and the profound emotional responses they evoke.

Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director of the New Institute and curator of the exhibition, says: "In a remarkably short time, China has produced some of the most influential and groundbreaking architectural projects in the world. Ma Yansong and MAD are at the forefront of this. We are delighted to present his first museum solo exhibition outside China in more than a decade, offering further insight into the work of this increasingly international firm."