Museum Villa Stuck München in Germany, in collaboration with the Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, is presenting a special exhibition "Li, Geschenke und Rituale(禮物與禮儀)," running from May 13 through Sep. 12. On view are installations and performances, themed on rituals of presenting and receiving gifts, by Taiwanese artist Lee Ming-wei (李明維), including a 13-meter-long installation "Guernica in Sand (如沙的格爾尼卡)" as well as copy paintings of "Our Peaceable Kingdom (我們的和平國度)" by three German artists.
Created using 7000kg of sand, Lee and other artists worked 900 hours to complete the large-scale sand art installation. During the exhibition period, visitors will be invited to walk on the sand painting, and along with other performers, Lee will brush the sand using a bamboo broom to create a different visual to it.
Addressing the opening of the exhibition, Michael Buhrs, director of Museum Villa Struck, expressed his gratitude for the support of Taiwan’s Ministry of Culture (MOC), which allowed the exhibition to run smoothly in Berlin and Munich, and helped promote bilateral exchanges in the field of art and culture. He further added that he is thankful that MOC introduced Lee and his artworks to Germany.
According to the Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, the exhibition was first held at Martin-Gropius-Bau in Berlin last year. Despite the entry restrictions due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the exhibition attracted more than 15,000 visitors. With the support and affirmation from MOC, Museum Villa Struck, and the Cultural Division of the Taipei Representative Office in Germany, the exhibition has been successfully launched in Munich this year.
Lee is an internationally renowned Taiwanese artist; he creates different participatory art projects that prompt connections among people and attempt to build social relations.