From March 8 to July 13, M+ Museum will host the exhibition "Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand," offering free admission to the public. Running concurrently, the "Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia—A Conversation" exhibition will be open from March 15 to July 13 at the same venue.
Pablo Picasso created some of his most iconic works, including Guernica (1937), in response to the bombing of the Spanish town of Guernica during the Spanish Civil War. Artist Lee Mingwei reinterprets this masterpiece using sand, an ephemeral medium, to depict the brutality and carnage of war. Lee invites viewers to reflect on the nature of chaos and the relentless cruelty of conflict.
During the exhibition, a small portion of the artwork will remain intentionally unfinished. On June 28, Lee will perform a live event alongside other performers to complete the final segment of the artwork, inviting visitors to walk into the sand painting and blur its original imagery. Performers will then sweep the sand with improvised movements, transforming the piece into a new abstract creation.
Lee explains that "Guernica in Sand" is both a tribute to Picasso's masterpiece and an exploration of violence and sacrifice through a fresh perspective. By allowing visitors to tread on the sand and witness its transformation, Lee hopes to create a shared experience that reshapes understandings of loss, renewal, and how historical trauma can foster change.
Born in Taichung in 1964, Lee Mingwei studied in Taiwan before moving to the US, where he attended the California College of the Arts and obtained a Master of Fine Arts in Sculpture from Yale University in 1997. Known for his interactive and open-ended art, Lee's works transcend cultural and political barriers, addressing the universal human desire for emotional connection.
Related News:
M+ museum opens free of charge on Sundays, no reservations required
M+ Museum standard exhibition to be open for free on March 9
Comment