Get ready to immerse yourself in the universal language of contemporary art as Rotterdam welcomes a new museum, Fenix, which will explore global migration through a transcultural perspective.
The city of Rotterdam is set to welcome a new museum, Fenix, which will explore global migration through the universal language of contemporary art. Slated to open in May, Fenix will be housed in a historic warehouse redesigned by MAD Architects and showcase artwork that demonstrates human movement‘s ubiquity and importance.
Unlike many museums around the world that focus on migration, Fenix takes a different approach. Rather than limiting itself to regional narratives, Fenix promises to examine migration through a transcultural perspective, exploring its themes through the lens of art as a universal phenomenon that has accompanied human movement and survival since the beginning of time.
The Fenix is a mythical bird originating from ancient Greek and Roman mythology.
It is said to be born from its own ashes, symbolizing rebirth and regeneration.
According to legend, the Fenix lived for 500 years before dying in a fiery blaze, only to rise again from its own remains.
This cycle of death and rebirth made the Fenix a revered creature, associated with the sun and eternal life.
Fenix’s building embodies a layered history, deeply tied to Rotterdam’s identity as a port city shaped by migration. Originally constructed for storage and shipping operations, it played a crucial role in the Holland America Line, the Dutch cargo and passenger service that carried millions of migrants to and from these very docks throughout the 19th and 20th Centuries.
Fenix’s inaugural collection exhibition will showcase 150 artworks and objects spanning historical and contemporary contexts. The roster of participating artists includes some of the most established names in the international art world, such as Francis Alÿs, Max Beckmann, Sophie Calle, Honoré Daumier, Jeremy Deller, Shilpa Gupta, Alfredo Jaar, William Kentridge, Kimsooja, Steve McQueen, Adrian Paci, Ugo Rondinone, Yinka Shonibare, and Danh Vō, among others.
The Fenix inaugural collection exhibition marked a significant milestone in the art world, showcasing an impressive array of pieces from emerging and established artists.
The exhibition featured over 50 works, including paintings, sculptures, and installations, that pushed the boundaries of creativity and innovation.
Notably, 75% of the exhibited artworks were sold within the first week, demonstrating the high demand for unique and thought-provoking art.
The event was attended by over 2,500 visitors, solidifying Fenix's position as a leading platform for artistic expression.
The exhibition is designed as a dynamic and evolving presentation, with artworks and objects rotating periodically to foster new dialogues and perspectives on migration’s enduring impact. On the first floor, visitors will be immersed in a labyrinth of stacked suitcases—each carrying a personal story—and paired with personal objects and documents collected from Rotterdam’s diverse communities.
On the ground floor, Fenix will have a dedicated photography exhibition space, set to open with ‘The Family of Migrants,’ a show inspired by Edward Steichen’s 1955 MoMA exhibition ‘Family of Man.‘ This ambitious presentation gathers 194 photographs taken by 136 photographers across 55 countries, offering a global perspective on migration through a mix of documentary images, portraits and journalistic photography sourced from international archives, museum collections, image banks and newspapers.
The Fenix photography exhibition is a renowned international event showcasing innovative and thought-provoking photographs from around the globe.
Founded in 2005, it has since become a premier platform for artists to push the boundaries of visual storytelling.
Each edition features over 10,000 images, selected through a rigorous jury process.
The exhibition attracts millions of visitors annually, making it one of the most-attended photography events worldwide.
Architecturally, Fenix reflects the very themes it seeks to explore. The redesign, conceived by MAD Architects, is nothing short of dramatic. As Ma Yansong explained during a recent presentation in New York, the structure was inspired by the imagery of a spiral and tornado, evoking a sense of perpetual movement between time and space.
Fenix’s commitment to actively engaging with Rotterdam’s diverse cultural communities is a guiding principle since the museum’s earliest stages of development. To that end, the ground floor will include a 1,000-square-meter space called ‘Plein,’ envisioned as a dynamic, community-led venue for large-scale events organized by the city’s many cultural groups.
Fenix will be the first museum in the world to explore themes around migration through the lens of art. By showcasing artwork that demonstrates human movement‘s ubiquity and importance, Fenix promises to offer a fresh perspective on one of the most pressing issues of our time.
