The M+ museum in Hong Kong has launched a major retrospective of South Korean artist Lee Bul, timed to coincide with Art Basel Hong Kong 2026. Titled 'Lee Bul: From 1998 to Now,' the exhibition features over 200 works, including her iconic 'Cyborg' and 'Anagram' series, as well as large-scale immersive installations like 'The City of the Sun.' Co-organized with the Leeum Museum of Art, this exhibition marks the artist's largest retrospective to date and traces her evolution from early body-centric performances to complex, sci-fi-inspired urban landscapes.
This exhibition underscores the rising global dominance of 'K-art' and positions Lee Bul as a pivotal figure in the contemporary art canon alongside legends like Yayoi Kusama. By hosting such a comprehensive survey during Asia's premier art fair, M+ and curator Jeong Do-ryeon are signaling a shift in institutional focus toward active, mid-career masters who bridge the gap between historical significance and future-looking themes of technology and identity. The show's success reflects a broader market and institutional trend where Korean artists are increasingly central to the international art dialogue.