Flying Boats is a cultural installation that weaves together art and architecture to reinterpret the traditions and symbols of China’s rural villages. This work is part of ‘Art at Qiaoshan - Art Field Nanhai’, a cultural programme organised by the Nanhai district in Foshan, Guangdong Province, which covers eight traditional villages. This ambitious project brings together hundreds of artists, architects and creatives from 15 countries who have designed 73 temporary installations that translate the history, traditions, pride and even historical rivalries of these communities. In the current edition, the central theme is ‘be like water’, and Sordo Madaleno, in collaboration with WUA Studio, was honoured to be selected with his proposal ‘Flying Boats’, located in Nanhai, Guangdong.
THE CONCEPT BEHIND ‘FLYING BOATS’
The design is inspired by the iconic dragon boats race, whose symbolism and tradition is deeply rooted in the local culture. These boats, displayed in a pre-existing building that once housed silk production, served as the conceptual starting point for this work.
‘The pre-existence and memory of an object or place holds the accumulated wisdom of generations. Understanding the reasons that gave rise to these boats and this space was essential to respect and reinterpret their history, especially under the central theme of water.’
— Fernando Sordo Madaleno, Partner, Sordo Madaleno
AN EMOTIONAL AND SYMBOLIC JOURNEY
The multiple uses of dragon boats, their craftsmanship, their maintenance and, above all, the powerful emotional charge they represent were analysed. The life of a dragon boat can be divided into three main stages:
1. Maintenance: During long periods of inactivity, the boats ‘sleep’ underwater, a traditional process that protects the wood and prolongs their life.
2. The break: Moments before the competition, when the boats float calmly, waiting for their turn.
3. The competition: Teams of rowers challenge each other’s speed in canals during festivals, creating the impression that the boats are ‘flying’ over the water.
The Flying Boats installation translates these three stages into a visual language that invites the visitor to experience sensations and optical illusions through the use of light and reflections on each level of the building:
- Ground floor: An enclosed space that simulates being underwater, evoking the stage of maintenance and rest.
- First level: The sensation of floating on water, reflecting the pre-competition
- Second level: A suspended space that recreates the speed and dynamism of the boats in full race, in contrast to the nature outside.
With ‘Flying Boats‘, Sordo Madaleno + WUA Studio not only pays homage to the rich tradition of dragon boats, but also establishes a dialogue between past and present, creating a space that combines history, symbolism and emotion.
About Sordo Madaleno
Sordo Madaleno is an interdisciplinary architecture, urban, and interior design firm with 87 years of experience committed to working with clients around the world. The practice is dedicated to excellence in architectural design with a sustainable approach to social development. Leadership flows through three generations of professionals who have developed and calibrated the vision of an evolving urban laboratory to create new experiences locally, regionally, and globally. The practice is based in Mexico City with a studio in London.
About WUA STUDIO
WUA is an innovative design and consulting firm based in London, UK. WUA’s core expertise spans architecture, interior design, urban planning, and regeneration, as well as art installation design. The firm integrates technological innovation, sustainability, and a deep connection to local context in its design philosophy.
About HUBART
Beijing Hubart Culture Communication Co., Ltd Pioneers in Culturally Shaped New Art Industry Ecological Value Inherits the business foundation of Hanzang Culture founded by Sun Qian, in 2000, Hubart was reorganized and established in 2016. Comprised of over 40 members, the current team is headquartered in Beijing with subsidy or branch offices in Shanghai, Fuliang County (Jingdezhen City), Nanhai District (Foshan City), Tokyo (Japan), and Echigo-Tsumari.
Hubart mainly develops its business around four major sectors: Art Exhibitions, Art Communication, Art Commerce, and Art Creation. As an official partner of the Echigo- Tsumari Art Triennial, Hubart has been actively engaged in cross-cultural exchanges and collaborations between China and Japan. With guidance and support from China’s Ministry of Culture and Tourism, the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and the Chinese Embassy in Japan, Hubart focused on the innovative implementation of the “Art at Art Field in China” project based on Echigo- Tsumari Art Field.
Two successful and ongoing regional art projects are “Art at Fuliang” in Jingdezhen, Jiangxi, and “Art at Qiaoshan – Art Field Nanhai (Guangdong)” in Foshan, Guangdong. These initiatives have garnered widespread recognition from government bodies, academia, media, and audiences, each showcasing unique features—the “Fuliang Model” and the “Nanhai Model”.
