The Road to Fenix

In the heart of the Fenixloods [warehouse] in Katendrecht, where millions of migrants left and arrived, a new addition to Rotterdam’s skyline is being built: the stainless steel Tornado. Designed by the Chinese architect Ma Yansong, it is a stairway, vantage point and artwork combined.

The Tornado’s construction constitutes this film’s axis: a spiral unfurling just like the celluloid itself. Every turn revealing a new perspective.

The Road to Fenix follows the people creating the project including (Droom en Daad director) Wim Pijbes, director Anne Kremers and author Abdelkader Benali who weave objects, texts and testimonies into a story of home, origin and future.

Every aspect is given attention: from the de merciless negotiations concerning lauded works of art to the personal stories behind the exhibitions.

This results in a multifarious, fascinating insight into the process whereby director Mark Bakker pays attention to both the architectural and the substantive. For instance, the audience sees how the Chinese architect Ma Yansong’s drawings and ideas are brought to life step by step, but we also hear from various artists explaining the migration stories behind their art.

Wim Pijbes will be present on Tuesday March the 31st for a Q&A.