Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now, a major exhibition running from 14th March to 9th August 2026, at the M+. This ambitious exhibition brings together over two decades of the artist’s work, establishing her as a leading figure in global contemporary art and exploring the evolving dialogue between technology, politics, and the human condition.
Architectural installations: utopian dreams reimagined
The exhibition opens with a striking landscape of architectural installations from Lee Bul’s Mon grand récit series. These monumental, sculptural environments evoke futuristic cities and fragmented utopias, inviting viewers to reconsider the promises—and failures—of modernity. Alongside them, works from the Perdu and Willing To Be Vulnerable—Velvet series expand this vision into two dimensions, blending organic and industrial materials to reflect on memory, history, and the instability of idealized narratives.
‘Cyborg series’: bodies between human and machine
A central highlight of the exhibition is the iconic Cyborg series, which first brought Lee international acclaim. These hybrid, often fragmented figures merge human anatomy with mechanical elements, questioning conventional ideas of beauty, gender, and perfection. Paired with works from the Anagram series, they form a speculative universe where science fiction meets critical theory, revealing the tension between aspiration and failure embedded in technological progress.
The final section, conceived as an intimate studio environment, presents drawings, sketches, and maquettes that offer insight into the artist’s creative process—bridging concept and execution.
Originally debuting at the Leeum Museum of Art in Seoul in 2025, this travelling exhibition continues its global journey in Hong Kong before heading to Europe and North America. As a comprehensive survey, it not only maps the evolution of artist Lee Bul’s practice but also reaffirms her role in shaping the visual language of contemporary art today.
Installation views, Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now, M+, Hong Kong, 2026
Photography by WILSON LAM PHOTOGRAPHY, LOK CHENG and MICHELLE WONG
