BERLIN, Germany – illycaffè is backing the retrospective of Lee Ufan. He’s one of the most significant figures associated with the Mono-Ha school, an artistic movement that blends raw materials with industrial elements. The retrospective will run from October 27, 2023, to April 28, 2024, at the Hamburger Bahnhof – Nationalgalerie der Gegenwart (National Gallery of Contemporary Art) in Berlin.
Curated by Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, the exhibition offers a comprehensive view of the work of this Korean artist and philosopher, spanning 50 years through around fifty artworks. Visitors seeking a moment of refreshment can pause at the illy bike on the museum’s ground floor and enjoy a coffee break while savoring the unique illy blend.
We are very happy to support the retrospective of Lee Ufan, an artist who won us over for his ability to describe complex concepts through the essentiality of his strokes – declares Cristina Scocchia, CEO of illycaffè – Even with the decoration he proposed for the latest illy Art Collection, the artist wanted to ideally offer us the physical and temporal space to dedicate to people and the environment that surrounds us.
A coffee break to be experienced with the simplicity that his artistic thought transmits to us”.
Sam Bardaouil and Till Fellrath, Directors of Hamburger Bahnhof said. “Lee Ufan is globally renowned as a pioneering artist who, over the course of six decades, has pushed the boundaries of painting and sculpture.
His unique approach to minimalism, coupled with his profound grasp of philosophy and Literature, sets him apart from most of his contemporaries, resulting in a practice that is truly universal. We are grateful for illycaffè’s support in making Lee Ufan’s first comprehensive retrospective in Germany at Hamburger Bahnhof.”
Lee Ufan has signed the illy Art Collection, which has just been introduced to the international market. With his distinctive minimalistic style, the artist used the iconic cups that have transformed an everyday object into a blank canvas over the years, attracting renowned international artists.
He used these cups to convey his idea of a meeting, that specific moment when the brush meets the canvas in time and space.
The illy Art Collection cups, indeed, feature a single bold brushstroke to maintain the necessary space for various elements to interact and create a connection between the white porcelain and the artwork. You’ll be able to purchase this collection at the museum’s bookshop.
