December 6th, 2013, Shenzhen. Ma Yansong presented his work, "Shanshui Experiment Complex" in the Border Warehouse of BI-City Biennale of Urbanism\Architecture 2013 in Shenzhen. This is an artwork in-between an architecture model and a landscape installation, created based on MAD’s latest project, "Nanjing Zendai Thumb Plaza". The total area of this urban design project is about 600,000 sqm and it is expected to be completed in 2017.

The historic city Nanjing is famous for its mountainous terrain and water landscapes around the city, as well as for its modern prosperity. With the culture, nature and history to consider, we need to rethink how to define the boundary between the natural and the urban on this piece of empty plot in the city's new development area. Is it possible to combine a high-density city with a natural atmosphere to create an energetic urban public space for the future, in order for people to reconnect with nature?

The installation approaches these issues by creating a green open space on the ground level of the city, where the natural and man-made landscape cross over with each other, existing in different dimensions both indoors and outdoors. The clear boundary of the site thus becomes blurred. While walking to their urban destination, people will feel as if they are walking between nature. Above that, a series of towers rise in the fog with flowing lines, changing smoothly with integrity, resolving the conflict of vertical power and competitiveness that plagues the current skyline today. In essence, the artistic mood of the places in ancient Chinese mythology can be perceived with the the urban landscape.

Exhibition Official Weibo: http://weibo.com/szhkbiennale
More artwork info and photos: http://www.i-mad.com/cnindex.aspx#artexh_details?wtid=0&id=31