Universe, an Artwork by Ma Yansong for the Shenzhen and Hongkong Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture

Upon invitation to participate in the Bi-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture (UABB) in Shenzhen and Hongkong, Ma Yansong created an art installation based on light and space titled Universe.

Differ from Western astronomy, in ancient Chinese cosmology, the universe emerged from a “void” of silence and emptiness, A Hundun (chaos) that was considered to be watery and non-material. This “void” was a unit in perpetual motion, and that unit had to disperse into multiplicity in order for everything to come into existence. This Eastern philosophy was intimately tied to human cognition, and it was believed that within each individual’s introspection is a universe. 

“Our understanding of the objective universe is very limited to everyone’s cognition. The universe conveys a sense of the unknown on a super large scale. I think maintaining curiosity and imagination toward the uncertain is both critical and wonderous.” — Ma Yansong

The artwork utilized the cavernous height of a former silo to represent the negative space of a “void” in the city. Illumination from spherical lights hanging from the ceiling spread through the entire space, reflecting on red mirrored panels to create a spatial atmosphere of infinite extension. The mobile lights shift unpredictably, flickering like stars and nebulae, catalyzing endless imagination. Music in the background, which was specially produced for the installation, drifts into the space as if from ancient times.

The space offers people a brief escape from daily life and an opening into imagination, exploring the connection between inner self-perception and the world. It was awarded as the best artwork by both Public Vote and Academic Committee in the Biennale.

Universe

Shenzhen, China

Principal Partners in charge: Ma Yansong, Dang Qun, Yosuke Hayano

Design Team: Yang Xuebing, Yoshio Fukumori, Niu Shaobo, Zhou Chenhao

Façade Consultant and Construction: DADI-FAÇADE

Lighting Consultant: Ning Field Lighting Design

Music: Mark Ma

Photography: UABB Hu Kangyu