“Danh Vo In Situ” will unfold over several years. It will feature a changing display of artworks and design objects by Vo and other artists and makers in Found Space, incorporated into a bespoke adaptable structure conceived by Vo in organic and sustainable ways. The project will also include performances, events, discussions, screenings, and exhibitions organised by Vo and the M+ Curatorial team. This initiative is developed in close collaboration with Vo, who will work with various teams in M+ to reimagine the museum’s potential as well as its exhibition and public programming practices. The modular structure developed by Danh Vo will function as a display system, regularly incorporating works by himself and by other artists with whom he has affinities and connections.
For “Danh Vo In Situ: Akari by Noguchi,” the inaugural phase of the long-term project, Vo has developed a display featuring a selection of Akari light sculptures by artist Isamu Noguchi (American, 1904–88).
Akari, meaning “light” or “illumination” in Japanese, is the name Noguchi gave to a group of more than a hundred sculptural lighting designs he created between 1951 and 1986. Inspired by traditional lanterns from Japan’s Gifu prefecture made from mulberry bark paper and bamboo, Akari are both affordable sculptures and functional lamps for homes, exemplifying Noguchi’s multifaceted practice in sculpture, design, and architecture. They resonate with Vo’s ongoing interest in how objects carry multiple stories and meanings. Complementing the display of Akari light sculptures with a selection of tropical plants, Vo turns Found Space into an intimate environment where visitors can slow down and spend time.
Curated by
Doryun Chong, Artistic Director and Chief Curator, M+ and Russell Storer, Senior Curator and Head of Curatorial Affairs, M+
at M+, Hong Kong
Ongoing