Chen Zhen and Haegue Yang
Chen Zhen and Haegue Yang
2 Jul 2024
Free entry
On view in the Found Space are two works from the M+ Collection: Round Table–Side by Side (1997) by Chen Zhen and Sonic Rescue Ropes (2021–2022) by Haegue Yang. Chen’s wooden sculpture merges two tables—one western and one Chinese—and a host of chairs from different cultures to point to the difficulty of cross-cultural communication. Yang’s installation Sonic Rescue Ropes, commissioned for the Found Space and the vertical Lightwell Hall, consists of gleaming cords of bells that stretch from the ceiling in different heights. When activated they elicit sublime, resonating sounds that conjure shamanistic and pagan associations. Found Space on B2, shaped by the rail tunnels that run underneath the M+ building, is a striking and signature display space for major projects and special commissions.
M+ facilitators will be on-site to occasionally activate Sonic Rescue Ropes.
About the Artists
Chen Zhen (1955–2000) was born in Shanghai and immigrated to France at age 31. He is best known for his large-scale sculptures and installations that explore the relationship between Chinese aesthetics, spirituality, and the modern human condition. Incorporating objects from everyday life such as cars, bicycles, and television sets, alongside traditional Chinese drums, bells, and furniture, his works offer rich meditations on cultural difference and transnational exchange.
Haegue Yang’s (b. 1971, South Korea) multidisciplinary practice articulates powerful narratives that explore history, memory, and cultural significance. Her large-scale installations and participatory sculptures are often composed of everyday objects, such as bells, venetian blinds, industrial fans, and spotlights, and can be activated to evoke an emotional bond with the viewer through their visual, tactile, and acoustic qualities.
Highlighted Object on Display
Image on top: Installation view of Round Table–Side by Side (1997) by Chen Zhen, 2024. © Estate of Chen Zhen/ADAGP. Photo: Lok Cheng, M+, Hong Kong