China / 7 min / 2016
* as Director of Photography: Jake Mahaffy
AC: Li Ming / Director: Shen Wei
Ma Yangsong commissioned an artistic record of his recently constructed Grand Theatre in Harbin, China (designed by MAD architects). The Grand Theatre Opera House in Harbin China, was awarded the ‘Cultural Architecture’ prize in the ArchDaily 2016 Building of the Year Awards, 2016 Working Arts Award and many other awards and nominations.
Architecture and dance collide in this short film by choreographer Shen Wei and MAD Architects principal Ma Yansong.
“In Innerspace, the Chinese-American visual artist and choreographer Shen Wei and MAD Architects principal Ma Yansong have created a gripping short film in which the worlds of architecture and dance collide with fluid precision. It helps that the setting of the performance is Ma’s own Harbin Opera House, its white sinuous silhouette a perfect accompaniment to dancer Alex Speedie’s elliptical movements on the swooping rooftop and inside the swirling interiors. Lensed by Jake Mahaffy and scored by Simon Littauer, the performance is as much a reflection of how two seemingly disparate disciplines can accentuate each other, as it is a semaphore for the mutual respect of two practitioners at the top of their game. Indeed, both were drawn to the project by a mutual curiosity and fascination about how art forms can intersect.” – Wallpaper.com