Kengo Kuma Shanghai Exhibition | Experience the architecture that brings you back to a place of peace

Visiting Kengo Kuma's exhibition in Shanghai was really full of twists and turns. I bought tickets well in advance, made plans, and arranged to travel from Hangzhou to Shanghai on the weekend to see the master's exhibition . Unexpectedly, I received a notice that I had to go on a business trip and had to cancel the trip. Then the meeting schedule was adjusted, and my business trip ended early, so I could catch the last flight from Chengdu to Shanghai. After more than three hours of flight delays, I finally made it to the exhibition at the last minute. It was really a roller coaster of emotions and a lot of effort However, when I truly stepped into the Fosun Foundation Art Center to see Kengo Kuma's exhibition, smelling the fresh scent of bamboo, and seeing the architectural models made of bamboo or wood, all the hardships seemed to be redeemed at that moment First, let me briefly introduce Kengo Kuma. I heard that he grew up between farmlands and forests, constantly in close contact with nature, playing carefree. One day, his father took him to an architectural exhibition, which opened the door to a new world for him. He suddenly developed a strong interest in architecture and embarked on the path of pursuing his dream as an architect The theme of Kengo Kuma's exhibition in Shanghai this time is called 'Architecture of the Five Senses'. What are the five senses? They are sight, hearing, smell, touch, and taste This exhibition gathers Kengo Kuma's representative works from all over the world. Perhaps it's his childhood experiences that make most of his architectural works constructed from natural materials like wood and bamboo. Approaching his works, it's as if you can hear the roaring waves, the tranquil bamboo forests, the babbling brooks... To align with this naturalistic intention, the exhibition even allows visitors to smell different scents corresponding to different architectural models, including the fragrance of tea, the smoky scent of wood... According to the exhibition introduction, there are also two of Master Kuma's works in Hangzhou. One is the Folk Art Museum at the Xiangshan Campus of the China Academy of Art, and the other is the Chaoyin Zen Temple, which started construction in 2018 and is not yet completed. I've already seen the models and look forward to seeing the real thing, to immerse myself in the architecture that brings peace and returns to nature An unexpected surprise After coming out of the exhibition, there is a sky garden on the 5th floor of the South Area of BFC Bund Finance Center, which recently has a 'Love Balloon' display. It allows you to take a photo with the Bund's three-piece set and the Oriental Pearl Tower