Genesis Unveils Liu Wei's New Works at New York's Metropolitan Museum of Art (The Met)

[Financial News] Genesis is continuing to sponsor contemporary art exhibitions through its partnership with The Met in New York. This year, four large sculptures by Chinese contemporary artist Liu Wei are being presented on the museum's main facade. By collaborating with major museums in New York, Los Angeles and Seoul, Genesis is expanding its brand presence beyond automobiles into culture and the arts.
Genesis announced on the 17th local time that the exhibition 'The Genesis Facade Commission: Liu Wei, Speculation' had opened at The Met. The exhibition runs through June 8 next year.
The Genesis Facade Commission is a contemporary art series that selects a new artist each year to display large-scale installation works on the museum's iconic Fifth Avenue facade. A facade refers to the front exterior wall of a building. Through its partnership with Genesis, the series has presented new works by Lee Bul in 2024, Jeffrey Gibson last year and Liu Wei this year.
Beijing-based Liu Wei has explored contemporary society since the late 1990s through a range of media, including photography, painting, video, sculpture and installation. Against the backdrop of China's rapidly changing society, he has incorporated fragments of cities, historical materials and forms resembling parts of the human body into his work, addressing recurring conflicts and tensions within society.
The exhibition explores the cycle of dismantling and restoration under the theme of 'fragmentation, transformation and regeneration.' The four large-scale sculptures are titled after fundamental physical constants: 'Speculation / Λ,' 'Speculation / G,' 'Speculation / c' and 'Speculation / h.'
The artist used composite fiberglass, iron, aluminum alloy, polyurethane paint and cowhide to combine forms reminiscent of architectural fragments and parts of the human body. The sculptures are arranged on the museum's facade as if multiple objects were loosely connected.
The 'human hand,' which appears repeatedly in his work, has long been a central motif for the artist. In these new works, he connects familiar, recognizable subjects with fantastical and unreal ones, revealing his exploration of transformation, perception and imagination.
The exhibition subtitle, 'Speculation,' alludes to the uncertainty that accompanies rapid change. Drawing on the artist's personal experiences and perspective, it highlights the tensions and conflicts inherent in changing times.
A Genesis representative said, "We hope this exhibition, which reconstructs familiar forms through an original artistic language and sheds light on the multiple layers of contemporary reality, will offer an opportunity to gain insight into human experiences in an era of rapid change."
Max Hollein, director and CEO of The Met, stated, "Liu Wei's works will demonstrate not only curiosity and innovation but also the artist's distinctive humor. We are honored to be able to expand the possibilities of The Met's facade through The Genesis Facade Commission."
The artist talk program 'An Evening with Liu Wei' will be held on the 22nd. It will explore Liu Wei's artistic world and the new works in this exhibition.
Meanwhile, Genesis also sponsors The Genesis Talk program through a multiyear partnership with the Los Angeles County Museum of Art (LACMA). In Korea, it is sponsoring the Do Ho Suh exhibition at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art, Korea (MMCA), which runs through February 9 next year.
[email protected] Kim Dong-ho Reporter