M+ is now showcasing Sonic Blossom, a renowned performative installation by artist Lee Mingwei, in the Focus Gallery until September 29th, 2024. This live performance features trained opera singers who will approach museum visitors to offer the gift of song. The performance draws inspiration from Lee’s experience caring for his mother during her recovery from heart surgery in 2012, a time when both found comfort in listening to Franz Schubert’s Lieder.
Since its inception in 2013, Sonic Blossom has traveled to cities such as Seoul, Tokyo, Adelaide, and New York, earning accolades including “The Best Classical Music of 2015” and “The Best in Art of 2015” by the New York Times during its presentation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art.
The performance features selected Lieder pieces and is executed by a group of classical singers based in Hong Kong. Each singer interacts with museum visitors, inviting them to experience an emotional moment by asking, “May I give you a gift of song?”
Lee Mingwei's conceptual framework encourages personal interaction and engagement, as each visitor's unique history shapes their experience. The Lieder, representing fleeting moments of beauty, provides a profound connection, echoing the themes of memory and emotion that permeate Lee’s work.
