In the provincial art and photography village of Arles in France, Korean artist Lee Ufan has unveiled his latest space, Lee Ufan Arles, designed by longterm friend and collaborator, Japanese architect Tadao Ando.

Lee Ufan Arles is located in Hôtel Vernon, a restored private mansion constructed between the 16th and 18th centuries turned exhibition space, balancing the building’s historic architectural elements with the modernist sophistication of Ando’s concrete additions. In the new exhibition space in Arles, Mr Lee placed equal emphasis on the key placement of works and their relation within the historic site. In our interview with Mr Lee in 2018 featured in Ala Champ Magazine Issue 8, Lee Ufan noted the importance of the dynamics of place and his artworks to Champ Editor Joanna Kawecki. ‘My work even if it’s the same one, has the characteristics of looking different depending on the place.’ He adds, ‘It is because space, location, and background are part of the work.’

Hôtel Vernon’s solid stone floors, terracotta tiles and exposed beams gently marry the contrasting materials of Mr Lee’s minimalist paintings, steel and stone installations and the direct concrete architectural interventions of Tadao Ando. The new exhibition space follows the renowned artists’ work previously shown in numerous public collections, from the Tate Modern Gallery in London, to the Nationalgalerie in Berlin, or privately exhibited by Galerie Kamel Mennour in Paris or Pace Gallery in London. Mr Lee’s first space dedicated completely to his works is found on Naoshima Island in Japan. Named Lee Ufan Museum, the gallery showcases the artists works in a contemplative space and architecture in his first collaboration with renowned Japanese architect Tadao Ando. In our 2018 interview, Mr Lee explained his close collaborative relationship with Ando. ‘Tadao Ando is an old friend who I trust. I have always wanted to work with him one day.’

Across 1350 square-metres and three floors, the Lee Ufan Arles exhibition space highlights the experiential context between Lee’s work and space, material and the tension between both. He explains, ‘I want the viewers to encounter my works, but even though my works are related to me, they are already an open world which is out of me. That is why the encounter is different depending on the viewers. But to touch the audience is what artists are dreaming of.’

Lee Ufan Arles
5 Rue de Vernon, 13200 Arles, France

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Text: Joanna Kawecki
Images: Lee Ufan Arles ©