Description

M+, Asia’s global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District (WestK) in Hong Kong, is pleased to present Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand, a large-scale installation and performance staged in The Studio at M+. In this work, Lee Mingwei (American, born Taiwan, 1964) recreates Pablo Picasso’s iconic masterpiece Guernica on a massive scale with sand. The installation will open to the public free of charge from Saturday, 8 March to Sunday, 13 July 2025. It runs parallel to the Special Exhibition The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: Picasso for Asia—A Conversation, on display in the West Gallery between 15 March and 13 July 2025.

In indigenous and religious traditions around the world, sand painting often embodies impermanence and change. Through this unexpected material, Lee brings these ideas to Picasso’s monumental work. Shaken by the bombing of the town of Guernica in Spain during the country’s civil war, Picasso created several works to express his hatred of war, the most famous being Guernica (1937). By rendering the

scenes of violence depicted in Guernica in this transitory medium, Lee invites us to reconsider the nature of chaos and highlights the creative power of transformation.

A small section at the top of the sand painting will remain unfinished. Towards the end of the display, Lee will stage a live performance on Saturday, 28 June 2025 in which he and other performers complete the final part of the work while visitors are invited to walk on the sand, blurring the image as it is being drawn. The performers will then gently sweep the sand in spontaneous movements, making a new, abstract composition. In this way, Lee creates a harmonious cycle of creation and destruction. For more details about the performance, please check the M+ website.

Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, articulating the vision behind juxtaposing contemporary and modern masterpieces, says, ‘Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand reflects M+’s ongoing exploration of how contemporary artists engage with and transform iconic works of art. This display exemplifies our vision to present innovative artistic practices that inspire deep reflection and communal experiences. By showing works of Pablo Picasso and Lee Mingwei in parallel, we invite visitors to join us in a multifaceted dialogue on modern and contemporary visual culture, where art converses across time, place, and culture within our museum.’

Pauline J. Yao, Guest Curator, providing insight into Lee’s artistic approach, says, ‘Lee Mingwei’s practice has consistently focused on creating intimate interactions that transcend boundaries and turn museum visits into profound encounters. In Guernica in Sand, he creates a contemplative space, allowing visitors to move beyond the criticism of violence and to explore the transformative power that emerges in the aftermath of catastrophes. By choosing sand as his medium—a material that embodies both fragility and the potential for renewal—he offers a meditation on how we process historical trauma.’

Lee Mingwei says, ‘Creating Guernica in Sand is both an homage to Picasso’s masterpiece and an exploration of how we might view historical violence and sacrifice through a different lens. Through the participatory act of walking on and sweeping away the sand painting, I hope to create a shared experience that transforms our understanding of loss and renewal, revealing how transformation can emerge from the ruins of history.’

Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand is generously supported by Travel Partner Cathay.

Cover Photo：Installation view of Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand, 2025 © Lee Mingwei Photo: Dan Leung Image courtesy of M+, Hong Kong

Photo 1 & 2：Installation view of Lee Mingwei: Guernica in Sand, 2025 © Lee Mingwei Photo: Dan Leung Image courtesy of M+, Hong Kong