Taiwanese acclaimed artist Lee Ming-wei's (李明維) "Our Labyrinth (如實曲徑)" performance will come to life at London's art gallery Tate Modern in the UK from May 26 to June 15.
In 2020 "Our Labyrinth" was acquired by Tate Modern for its collection, and this year the work is being presented for the first time as part of the gallery's free displays. Taking place continuously over three weeks, it will be showcased at Turbine Hall, an exclusive exhibition space for large-scale sculptural projects and site-specific installation art.
"Our Labyrinth" transforms the simple act of sweeping into a contemplative and gestural performance, bringing a sense of ritual into the gallery. Two dancers with bells tied to their ankles move slowly as they sweep grains of rice into patterns. Over time the dancers shape the grains into a series of labyrinthine paths on a floor shaped like a pool of ink. The work was inspired by the artist’s experience of visiting ancient temples in Myanmar in 2014, where paths leading from huts to temples were swept by volunteers.
Originally performed by one dancer, the work has specially expanded to include two performers dancing at a time. Additionally, many well-known dancers participate in this edition, including Taiwanese dancers: Yen-Ching lin (林燕卿), Liu I-ling (劉奕伶) and Wu Cheng-lung (吳成龍), and dancers from all over the world such as Ben Ajose-Cutting, Iris Athanasiadi, Rosalie Bell, Jean-Gabriel Manolis, Thomas McKeon, Aya Sone and Olivia Thynne.
With the support from the Ministry of Culture, the Tate Modern will hold a conversation with Lee Ming-wei and others on May 27 as part of a special Tate Modern Lates program, to discuss the performance. The conversation will be chaired by Devika Singh, curator of International Art at Tate Modern.
Born in Taichung in 1964, Lee currently lives in Paris and New York City. He creates participatory installations exploring issues such as trust, intimacy, and self-awareness.
>Artist | Lee Mingwei