Have you ever found comfort in a song? “Lee Mingwei: Sonic Blossom,” is a performance-based project that allows local, classically trained singers to offer a spontaneous gift of song to visitors in the Utah Museum of Fine Arts (UMFA). This special participatory artwork by Taiwanese-American artist Lee Mingwei is on view now through May 5, 2024.
Born in Taiwan in 1964, Lee Mingwei, who currently resides in Paris, Taipei, and New York, creates participatory installations that enable strangers to engage with concepts of trust, intimacy, and self-awareness. Additionally, Lee conducts one-on-one events in which he and visitors explore these themes through daily activities like eating, sleeping, writing, and conversing. His projects often present open-ended scenarios for everyday interactions, adapting and transforming with participant involvement throughout an exhibition’s duration.
“Sonic Blossom” began in 2013, when the artist was caring for his mother as she recuperated from surgery. Inspired by the solace they found listening to Schubert’s Lieder together, the project takes the form of “gift-giving” a lied (or song) to invite a moment of catharsis, joy, and connection.
“While taking care of my mother, I found great beauty and comfort in Franz Schubert’s Lieder. Through the singers selected for this project, I hope to share this beauty with you who have come to visit this gallery. If offered one of these songs as a gift, please accept the encounter and allow the experience to transform you.” – Lee Mingwei
“Sonic Blossom” has toured in Seoul, Tokyo, Beijing, Boston, Taipei, New York, Sydney, Auckland, Frankfurt, Singapore, Washington DC, Paris, Jakarta, Cleveland, Berlin, Metz, Munich, and Helsinki and was selected as “The Best Classical Music of 2015” and “The Best in Art of 2015” in the New York Times for its presentation at The Metropolitan Museum of Art. For more information about Lee Mingwei, including project details and photos, visit https://www.leemingwei.com.
Experience Lee Mingwei’s Sonic Blossom in the UMFA modern and contemporary galleries between April 10 and May 5 on the following days and times:
- Tuesdays 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Wednesdays 1:30 pm – 7:30 pm
- Thursdays 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Fridays 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Saturdays 10:30 am – 4:30 pm
- Sundays 10:30 am – 4:30 pm