Lee Ufan
ABOUT THE ARITST
Lee Ufan is a Korean-born artist and theorist whose work has played a central role in shaping contemporary East Asian art. Associated with the Mono-ha movement, he focuses on relationships rather than objects, emphasizing the interaction between materials, space, and the viewer. His sculptures often combine industrial elements such as steel with natural stones, arranged with deliberate restraint to highlight tension, balance, and presence. In painting, Lee uses sparse gestures and open surfaces, allowing emptiness and repetition to carry meaning. His practice is deeply influenced by philosophy, particularly ideas of perception, temporality, and being. Rather than imposing form, he allows materials to exist as they are, encouraging quiet awareness. Lee has exhibited widely in major museums worldwide and has written influential texts on art and aesthetics, making him both a significant visual artist and an important intellectual voice.
PROJECTS:
ADDRESS:
Japan, 〒761-3110 Kagawa, Kagawa District, Naoshima, 字倉浦１３９０
ACCESS:
General: ¥1,400 (¥1,200 online) | 15 and under are FREE
DISCRIPTION:
The Lee Ufan Museum is a dedicated art space located on Naoshima Island in Japan, created to present the work of artist Lee Ufan in close dialogue with its setting. Designed by architect Tadao Ando, the museum is embedded into the landscape, with much of the structure set below ground to preserve the natural terrain. The architecture relies on exposed concrete, controlled daylight, and simple geometric forms that echo the artist’s restrained aesthetic. Inside, the galleries are carefully scaled to house paintings and sculptural installations, allowing space, silence, and material presence to shape the viewing experience. Artworks are arranged to encourage slow movement and reflection rather than visual overload. The museum forms part of Naoshima’s larger art environment, where architecture, nature, and contemporary art are treated as an interconnected whole rather than separate elements.
HOURS:
Tuesday - Sunday 10am - 5pm
NOTES:
This is a small isolated museum dedicated to the works of Ufan. Both the setting and the museum's integration into the landscape are striking.
