Pace Gallery Seoul will present a major exhibition of Lawrence Weiner's works from November 8 to December 28. The exhibition, titled "ANYTHING ADDED TO SOMETHING," will feature sculptures created by the artist between 1989 and 2019. Spanning the gallery’s second and third floors and extending to its exterior, the exhibition invites visitors to engage deeply with Weiner's innovative approach to language as art.

Weiner, a pioneering figure of the 1960s Conceptual art movement, used language as his primary medium. His "Declaration of Intent" remains a foundational text for Conceptual art, establishing that artwork need not be physically constructed to exist but could instead reside in the interpretive experience of its audience. This declaration emphasized the viewer's role in realizing the meaning of art and allowed for a broad and flexible understanding of what art could be.

One of the exhibition's central pieces, “ANYTHING ADDED TO SOMETHING” (2009/2024), takes over Pace Seoul’s second floor. Here, visitors are confronted with the physical and conceptual scale of the work, exploring the social, economic, and environmental implications of “anything added to something.” Weiner’s language sculptures encourage personal reflection, prompting viewers to bring their lived experiences into their interpretation of the work.

On the third floor, the exhibition will feature other works inspired by natural phenomena, including “COVERED BY CLOUDS” (1989/2024), “INCLINED ENOUGH TO ROLL” (2009/2024), “ROLLED THROUGH CORRIDORS OF CONTAINMENT TO REST ON A LEVEL SURFACE” (2009/2024), and “ATTACHED BY EBB AND FLOW” (2019/2024). Each piece reflects Weiner’s philosophical engagement with nature and space, combining sculptural elements and language to reimagine landscapes and the forces shaping them.

Throughout his life, Weiner seamlessly merged language with material, establishing unique performances through words that invited interaction with everyday environments. His works, which have appeared on walls, floors, windows, public infrastructure, and buildings, transcend conventional gallery spaces, allowing art to intersect with public life. The artist translated many of his works to resonate with audiences globally, contextualizing them for each location and language.

Weiner once stated, "Anything that exists has a certain space around it; even an idea occupies space." His work thus expands into the realms of physical, social, and cultural meaning, bridging concepts with lived reality.

In addition to his sculptures, Weiner’s oeuvre extended to music, film, video, and artist books, contributing significantly to the art world. Posthumously, he was honored with the 2022 Oskar Kokoschka Prize, recognizing his lasting impact on visual art.

Pace Gallery, established in 1960, is an international art gallery representing many of the 20th and 21st centuries’ most prominent artists. With longstanding relationships with artists like Alexander Calder, Jean Dubuffet, and Mark Rothko, Pace has become an influential institution in the global art scene. Today, with eight locations worldwide, including Seoul and Hong Kong, the gallery remains dedicated to presenting pioneering art and supporting its artists.

This exhibition offers a rare opportunity to delve into Lawrence Weiner’s language sculptures and experience his vision of art as a dynamic interaction between text, material, and audience.

Sayart / Maria Kim, sayart2022@gmail.com