Korean artist Lee Bul’s first major Hong Kong exhibition opens at M+

M+ has just opened the doors to one of the most anticipated art events of the season, ‘Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now’. Fresh from a successful run at Seoul’s Leeum Museum of Art, where it drew over 100,000 visitors, the exhibition features more than 200 works spanning from the late 1990s to 2024. From cyborg figures that reimagine classical statues to sprawling installations that evoke the ruins of failed utopias, viewers will get to see the most complete picture of Lee’s visionary practice to date. 

Who is Lee Bul?

Born in 1964, Lee Bul is a South Korean artist who has carved out a reputation as a key voice in contemporary art. Shaped by her upbringing during Korea’s turbulent socio-political landscape, she first gained notice in the late 1980s with bold performances that challenged social norms.

From there, her work expanded into a multifaceted practice, drawing on science fiction, critical theory, and art history to interrogate themes like the body, gender, and the allure of utopian ideals. Her pieces have graced major venues worldwide, from New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art to London’s Hayward Gallery, often prompting viewers to confront the double-edged nature of human advancement.

What to expect at ‘Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now’

The exhibition is arranged in three parts, guiding visitors through the key phases of Lee’s artistic evolution. You’ll first encounter large-scale installations from her Mon grand récit series, which explore themes of utopias and the grand narratives of modernity, alongside two-dimensional works from the Perdu and Willing to Be Vulnerable—Velvet series.

From there, you’ll move into the Cyborg and Anagram works of the late 1990s and early 2000s – the pieces that first brought her international attention – where classical statuary meets futuristic enhancements, and organic forms merge with biomechanical elements to question our assumptions about perfection, gender, and beauty.

The final section offers a more intimate view, with around 100 drawings and dozens of maquettes that trace how philosophical ideas and imaginative concepts gradually take physical shape, serving both as independent works and as studies for her larger installations.

There’s also more to explore beyond the galleries themselves:

• Throughout the exhibition period, M+ cinema is screening Lee Bul: Early Performances, a free programme of four documentaries that look back at her formative work from the late 1980s to the early 1990s.
• Between May and June, the museum will host four Family Days with interactive drop-in activities and Imagination Playground sessions inspired by the exhibition.
• On selected Fridays and Saturdays in May, the curators and exhibition team will also lead guided tours, sharing stories behind Lee’s works and the exhibition.

Exhibition merchandise

For those looking to take a piece of the exhibition home, The M+ Shop has launched a special collection inspired by Lee’s futuristic aesthetics. Highlights include a unique clock based on the work Civitas Solis II, a limited-edition printed T-shirt, a metallic balloon pouch and keychain, a tote bag made of metallic fabric, and more.

In partnership with the Leeum Museum of Art and Thames & Hudson, M+ has also co-published Lee Bul: Life and Work, the first comprehensive monograph on the artist with in-depth essays looking into Lee’s multifaceted practice.

Check out the full collection of merch at the M+ online shop.

Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now

When: March 14 to August 9, 2026
Where: West Gallery, M+, WestK
How much: $190 (Adults), $100 (Concessions)

Stay in the loop: sign up for our free Time Out Hong Kong newsletter for the best of the city, straight to your inbox

Recommended stories:

Brooklyn-based artist 7SoulsDeep’s work spotted around Hong Kong

World-renowned musical Cats returns to Hong Kong this August

Sephora and Tabasco release chilli-infused plumping lip glosses