In his artistic production Lee Mingwei (Taichung, Taiwan, 1964) creates participatory installations where people can explore the themes of trust, intimacy and self-awareness. He also realizes one-on-one events in which visitors are invited to reflect on these themes with the artist, while engaged in daily activities such as eating, drinking, resting or walking.
His works are open scenarios, able to take on different forms, depending on the single interactions with visitors, capable of constant change, even during the exhibition itself.
His work focuses on the contemplation of the relationships between people, encouraging visitors to reflect on their own and to develop new ones with strangers also.
Lee Mingwei has worked with MAO before, for the project Sonic Blossoms, in collaboration with the Conservatory of Music “Giuseppe Verdi” of Turin and with the Representative Office of Taipei in Turin. Sonic Blossoms was developed by Lee starting from a very personal and intimate experience and saw seven singers from the Erik Battaglia Chamber Vocal Music School of the “Giuseppe Verdi” Conservatory going around the museum halls and offering visitors the exhibition of a Schubert’s Lied as a gift.
Following the experience of Sonic Blossoms, Lee Mingwei returned to MAO in 2023-2024 with the work Le son de la pierre as part of his artist residency.
The installation utilizes a ceramic disc, stone and a granite stand as metaphors for human inertia and the potential for change. The act of breaking and subsequently repairing the disc using the Japanese technique of Kintsugi functions both as a physical and metaphorical gesture, underscoring the transformative power of imperfection and resilience.
“I envisaged a project that could take shape using a ceramic disc, a stone and a granite support. The idea was to use these simple but symbolic objects to create a powerful, transformative experience. The ceramic disk represents the immobility of our lives. The little stone represents the potential for change. The moment we realise our lives are stalled, it’s time to act. With a strong hand, the ceramic disk breaks into a thousand pieces, freeing our stagnant emotions. This breaking point is a moment of lucidity, an opportunity to free ourselves from the rigid shell that was holding us back.”
The sculpture was made in collaboration with Samantha Vasseur.
