M+ presents first major retrospective of I.M. Pei this June

M+ is launching the first major retrospective of Ieoh Ming Pei titled I.M. Pei: Life is Architecture. Launching this June, the exhibition celebrates one of the greatest architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries responsible for iconic structures around the world including the National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, D.C., modernisation of the Grand Louvre in Paris, Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and Museum of Islamic Art in Doha.

Beyond the aesthetic and functional significance of his prolific portfolio, I.M. Pei’s life and legacy have laid a foundation for the contemporary world, both consciously and subconsciously influencing the lives of countless individuals who’ve interacted with his structures. The upcoming exhibition takes a look at his lifelong practice through six themes representing areas of focus and approaches throughout his career: “Pei’s Cross-Cultural Foundations”, “Real Estate and Urban Redevelopment”, “Art and Civic Form”, “Power, Politics, and Patronage”, “Material and Structural Innovation”, and “Reinterpreting History through Design”.

Shown at the exhibition is a vast selection of his drawings, sketches, videos, models, photographs, and other archival documentation — some of which are shown for the very first time. To paint his works in a new light, the exhibition will also present newly commissioned photographs of Pei’s buildings by new-gen photographers including South Ho, Naho Kubota, Lee Kuo-min, Giovanna Silva, Mohamed Somji, Tian Fangfang, and Yoneda Tomoko. Some of the architectural models that will soon be shown were made specifically for the exhibition in collaboration with The University of Hong Kong and The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

The I.M. Pei: Life is Architecture exhibition officially launches on June 29, 2024.

Location: West Gallery, M+, 38 Museum Dr, West Kowloon
Prices:

– Standard: HKD 160
– Concessions*: HKD 80
– M+ Members: HKD 112
– M+ Patrons’ Guests: HKD 80

Images: M+