Lehmann Maupin Opens in Hong Kong with Lee Bul

Chatter about Lehmann Maupin's impending expansion to Hong Kong picked up speed over the summer, and today the New York gallery announced that the first exhibition at the new venue (opening Mar. 14) will be new work by the South Korean artist Lee Bul. Courtney Plummer, who has worked for the gallery for 10 years, will direct the new branch.

Lehmann Maupin, which occupies two spaces in New York-one in Chelsea, the other on the Lower East Side-chose the Pedder Building, a neo-classical structure in Hong Kong's central business district, as its new home. Rem Koolhaas and his firm OMA renovated the space. The Hong Kong branches of Pearl Lam, Gagosian and Ben Brown galleries are also located in the historic 9-storey building. Last summer, the clothing chain Abercrombie & Fitch opened in the basement and three lower floors.

Lee Bul's most recent exhibition with Lehmann Maupin was in 2010 at the gallery's Chrystie Street space. There, she installed angular hanging sculptures made of mirrors, steel, glass and wood. In Hong Kong, Bul will show new drawings and painted sculptures. The Hong Kong space's second exhibition, opening in May to coincide with the city's first Art Basel fair, will feature gallery artists like Tracey Emin, Robin Rhode and Teresita Fernández.