Enter the labyrinth of artist Lee Mingwei | Tate

Two dancers wearing sarongs with bells on their ankles move slowly across Tate Modern's Turbine Hall. They are brushing grains of rice into patterns. They are creating a winding labyrinth-like path.

The dancers are performers in Lee Mingwei's Our Labyrinth, an artwork that brings a sense of ritual into the museum. It was inspired by Lee's experience of visiting ancient temples in Myanmar, where paths leading to temples are swept by volunteers.

In this film we meet the artist and introduce his beautiful, participatory works. Lee creates installations exploring issues such as trust, intimacy, and self-awareness. He often takes everyday interactions as his starting point, from eating and sleeping to walking and conversation.

Our Labyrinth was presented in the Turbine Hall at Tate Modern 26 May – 15 June 2022. It was performed by Ben Ajose-Cutting, Iris Athanasiadi, Rosalie Bell, Yen-Ching Lin, Liu I-Ling, Jean-Gabriel Manolis, Thomas McKeon, Aya Sone, Olivia Thynne, and Wu Cheng-Lung.

[CinemaoftheMind]

Simple, direct, elegant, ephemeral. Like writing or composing, installation art as the magic of moment-making. Setting a scene in motion that enables performers and audience to weave together a common fabric of unique experience. 😌

[valiullah]

Every brush of the broom laid down is a direct expression of the inner personality of that human being. This is why mark-making can never lie. It will show you your true self.

[LambentOrt]

Fantastic. First time I'm hearing and seeing the work of Lee Mingwei, and I'm super intrigued. Thank you Tate!

[wendypope]

Their art movements with the material is beautiful it's stunning like the Buddhist monks with their sand mandalas the transcience of it all

[ingridllinas]

What a beautiful performance. Dance, music and costumes are ideal. As a viewer I enter in a peaceful scenario. In a state of calm and total immerse in their dancing movements and interior world. Beautiful as well as Opera songs.

[chaseholomeyer]

Their artful motions and designs are simultaneously simple and complex. I enjoyed the artist’s comments. Thank you!

[lisengel]

I love this kind of art, as a celebration and cantillation of Life, of what it is like to be a Human being - and the poetic and magic possibilities of every moment and meeting
🎶💜🎵

[Smaqx]

This isn't choreographed?? It is intensely beautiful ❣️

[BakaNeBaka]

How I wish I could experience 'Sonic Blossom'. I'd have bawled and wailed if an opera singer gifted me a song.
This work is also sensory and calming even through the screen. Surely checking out about this gentle artist.

[vaughngainey]

His artwork is beautiful. If I was serenaded with a beautiful Opera song I would cry.

[danielpercent]

I love this, to open my mind and to clear my head of all negative vibes.

[filsanjoseph]

It just feels so fluid and going with the flow of creative energy as it flows through the artists. I love it very much, thank you for sharing!!

[ukestudio]

Odd how something so beautiful without words ..has to have a voice over in diametrical opposition to it.

[kismypencek]

I love it! Lets multiply these new behaviors all over! Thank you Lee.

[firna]

Nice to see spreading, like hands of wind, only thing is life is not all that peaceful!

[elinyang]

It reminded me that my grandma was drying cabbage in the yard of her transitional house in Taiwan.

[alexadey]

Love the ephemeral sand and brushing... exactly what we are lacking....

[w.w.sakbeh]

The artwork is beautiful but in effect this is what humans do everyday when we interact with each other and with the planet and universe. And the result can be balance, imbalance, something in between or something that surpasses either extreme (chaos, enlightenment, etc.) or a hybrid synthesis.

[karinevahofbauer]

Very spirituell...ein cosmic dance..sehr bewusst gehe ich in meinen Tag und tanze ihn in jeder Bewegung und Berührung. Danke🙏

[DanysBrianBarrerasGonzalez]

Very instresting idea. I take for my self (with some modifications). Thanks! ❤