The Museum of Art Pudong in Shanghai will open to the public on July 8 with exhibitions by Britain’s Tate, Spain’sFundacioJoanMiroand Chinese fireworks artistCaiGuoqiang.

Looking like a marble-and-glass rectangle from the front, the public art museum at 2777BinjiangAvenue is the latest work of renowned French architect andPritzkerPrize winner JeanNouvel.

A 53-meter-long bridge stretches from the second floor and links the museum to the waterfront platform on the east bank of the Huangpu River. There are two “glass halls,” one with a height of 6 meters, the other at 11 meters.

One side is paved with glass, allowing people to enjoy beautiful views of theBundacross the river, and the other side has high-reflective LEDs, mirroring theBundview. The design echoes with the nearby river, and creates a subtle blend of light, art and image.

Nouvel said the design is meant to blur the distinction between the structure and the environment.

“I hope the museum can naturally, seamlessly integrate into the surroundings, like a serene sculpture rather than anindividualbuilding,” he said. “I’m playing a game with the Huangpu River and surrounding spaces.”

XuErjin, general manager of the museum’s investor and operator Lujiazui Group, said the museum was the last piece of the jigsaw ofLujiazui’s waterfront area.

With an investment of over 1.3 billion yuan (US$201 million), it aims to become a world-class museum, in aesthetic taste and level of exhibitions, specializing in international cultural exchanges,Xusaid.

In June 2019, the group signed a memorandum of understanding with Tate Britain, one of the most famous art museums with collections from British art dating back to year 1500 to the present day, and international modern and contemporary art.

Tate Britain will offer professional guidance to help MAP become a world-class museum, and hold exhibitions there for three years.

“Light: Works from Tate’s Collection” is the first exhibition.

The exhibition, which will run through November 14, will display more than 100 pieces from Tate, including renowned works such as Claude Monet’s “The Seine at Port-Villez,” John Martin’s “The Destruction of Pompeii and Herculaneum” and Sir John EverettMillais’“Ophelia,” one of Tate’s best-loved paintings.

It will also feature contemporary interventions by artists such as DanFlavin, JamesTurrell,AnishKapoor,TacitaDean,OlafurEliasson, Bridget Riley andYayoiKusama.

MariaBalshaw, Tate director, said: “Tate has long been engaged with Chinese art and artists and we are delighted to have been able to collaborate closely with our colleagues in Shanghai to prepare for the opening of this important new museum.

“We hope this exhibition, which includes many of Tate’s most prized artworks, will have a significant impact and reach new audiences.”