#Industry News
Opening of Tadao Ando's He Art Museum in China delayed due to coronavirus fears
The He Art Museum (HEM) announced today that it will postpone its launch originally scheduled for 21 March due to uncertainties stemming from redoubled efforts to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV.
"The He Art Museum (HEM) announced today that it will postpone its launch originally scheduled for 21 March due to uncertainties stemming from redoubled efforts to contain the 2019 novel coronavirus, or 2019-nCoV. The new private project in Shunde district of the city of Foshan in Guangdong Province is backed by Midea electronics founder He Jianfeng with a 16,000 sq m double helix structured building designed by Tadao Ando." — The Art Newspaper
The privately-owned He Art Museum (HEM) in Foshan City, China commissioned Pritzker Prize-winning architect Tadao Ando in September 2015 to design its new gallery spaces and started construction in December of the same year, according to the museum's website.
"The architectural design highlights Tadao Ando’s challenge on 'dynamic geometry,' where the dual-spiral staircase and the courtyard done in cast-finish concrete will be unveiled for the first time, capturing the attention of the world," explains the museum's project description the Ando design.
"The architecture is presented in various types of 'circles,' ranging from its overall design to the details of its craftsmanship. These 'non-concentric circles' stacked together expand outwards provide tension and rhythm to the architecture, hence, achieve a dynamic equilibrium in this stable structure."
"By integrating traditional history and culture with modern and contemporary art, the exchange of cultures will bring people the long-cherished wish of a harmonious and peaceful life," Tadao Ando is quoted describing his design. "The design of the building takes 'harmony' as the theme. From the architectural design to the very details, a variety of circles is presented. This is an attempt to create a new culture center integrating Cantonese culture by absorbing the special meaning of geometry in the regional context."
86,111 square feet (8,000 sqm) of exhibition spaces will be dedicated to showing modern Chinese art as well as contemporary international art from the museum's permanent collection.
"The museum is also postponing a press event in London planned for this week as well as architectural tours of the facility in late February," reports The Art Newspaper.
