M+, Asia’s first global museum of contemporary visual culture in the West Kowloon Cultural District, hosted an opening ceremony tonight for its Special Exhibition, I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture. Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), widely known as I. M. Pei, is one of the most influential architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. M+’s full-scale retrospective takes a close look at Pei’s life and work through six areas of focus that not only define his unique practice, but also place his architectural projects in dialogue with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, showing architecture and life to be inseparable. The exhibition will be held in the West Gallery, M+ from Saturday, 29 June 2024 to Sunday, 5 January 2025. I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture is generously supported by the Lead Sponsor Bank of China (Hong Kong), Bei Shan Tang Foundation, the Family of S. P. Tao, Travel Partner Cathay, and Hotel Partner The Ritz-Carlton, Hong Kong.

The opening ceremony of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture this evening was officiated by Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Andrew Leung, President of the Legislative Council of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, Henry Tang, Chairman of the Board of West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Bernard Chan, Chairman of the M+ Board, Betty Fung, Chief Executive Officer, West Kowloon Cultural District Authority, Suhanya Raffel, Museum Director, M+, Architect Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, I. M. Pei’s son, partner and founder of PEI Architects, Patricia Pei, I. M. Pei’s sister and Member, M+ American Friends Foundation Board, exhibition co-curator Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, and Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong).

Paul Lam, Secretary for Justice, the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, says, ‘I. M. Pei’s life and career have undoubtedly left an indelible mark on the modern history of architecture. The Bank of China Tower, in particular, is one of the most symbolic buildings on our harbourfront, demonstrating Hong Kong’s status as an international financial centre. Presenting this first-ever retrospective for such a legendary architect is a significant milestone for Hong Kong. It underscores Hong Kong's role as a beacon of cultural and artistic innovation, a place where history and modernity converge to inspire and elevate.’

Bernard Chan, Chairman of the M+ Board, says, ‘I. M. Pei is one of the most recognised figures in twentieth-century architecture. His many projects, realised across an exceptionally wide geography, all realised with clear visionary design, have confirmed his position as a truly eminent figure in world architecture. This exhibition is a fine example of M+’s vision of global cultural exchange with a strong transnational and cross-cultural approach in producing comprehensive exhibitions of contemporary visual culture and has been seven years in the making. I would like to thank the Pei family for entrusting M+ with a presentation of the life and architecture of such a remarkable figure. Their belief in this project and support have been instrumental at every stage of its development. We are particularly grateful to Sandi Pei, who as early as 2014 facilitated M+’s discussions with I. M. Pei himself.’

I. M. Pei’s son, the architect Li Chung (Sandi) Pei, partner and founder of PEI Architects, says, ‘This exhibition brings to the public the first full-scale retrospective of our father’s productive and far-reaching career, elucidating the transcultural influences and distinctive historical circumstances that contributed to his unique place as an architect and global citizen. Gathered over many years from a multitude of sources, the exhibition details a remarkable personal story that only in its full telling reveals the complexities, challenges, and achievements of his long and optimistic life. We are proud of this exhibition and thank the M+ team for its thorough, intelligent, and enlightened documentation.’

Shirley Surya, co-curator of I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture, says, ‘Though one of the world’s most famous architects, I. M. Pei and his contributions are relatively little understood. We hope this exhibition will further shed light on a figure who influenced countless individuals, cities, and, indeed, the world. Pei drew from the regional while shaping the global. His work articulated artistic and cultural ideals while forging urban skylines—negotiated through dialogue and collaboration, and with results that innovated architectural forms and feats of engineering. It has been a privilege to bring together largely unseen materials from the archives of Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, the Library of Congress, Pei’s family and clients, and his collaborators at various points in his career for the first time. The picture that emerges is a practice fundamentally intertwined with crucial developments in architecture, urbanism, nation building, and institutional identities across a wide range of geographies.’

Sun Yu, Vice Chairman and Chief Executive of Bank of China (Hong Kong), says, 'Pei's achievements are well-known—his iconic buildings have left a lasting mark around the world. But what really sets him apart is his genius in bridging different cultures, blending tradition and modernity, and creating designs that are both beautiful and functional. As the Lead Sponsor, Bank of China (Hong Kong) is very proud to support this exhibition. It explores Pei's work in its social, cultural, and personal context, showcasing his rich legacy for people in Hong Kong, the Chinese mainland, and beyond. We hope it will help foster a deeper appreciation for architecture and the arts, and inspire the next generation of creative talents to follow in Pei's extraordinary footsteps. This exhibition also serves as a celebration of Hong Kong's heritage as a cultural super-connector between East and West, sharing a vivid China story with the world.’

I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture is the first full-scale retrospective of Chinese American architect Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019), widely known as I. M. Pei, one of the most influential architects of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Pei’s high-profile projects were realised over seven decades with an exceptionally wide geographic reach, including the National Gallery of Art East Building in Washington, D.C., the modernisation of the Grand Louvre in Paris, the Bank of China Tower in Hong Kong, and the Museum of Islamic Art in Doha. These landmark projects solidified his legacy and position in architectural history and popular culture. His life and work weave together a tapestry of power dynamics, geopolitical complexities, and cultural traditions around the world. His transcultural vision laid the foundation for the contemporary world.

Organised with the support of the Estate of I. M. Pei and Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, which succeeded the architectural firm Pei founded, the exhibition is curated by Shirley Surya, Curator, Design and Architecture, M+, and Aric Chen, General and Artistic Director, Nieuwe Instituut (New Institute), Rotterdam. Seven years in the making, this retrospective features more than 400 objects, many of them never exhibited before. These include original drawings, architectural models, photographs, films, and other archival documentation from institutional and private holdings. The exhibition takes a close look at Pei’s life and work through six areas of focus that not only define his unique practice, but also place his architectural projects in dialogue with social, cultural, and biographical trajectories, showing architecture and life to be inseparable.

Ticketing arrangements

Tickets to the Special Exhibition is available for online purchase via the M+ website, West Kowloon Cultural District website, West Kowloon Cultural District App, Cityline, China Travel Service (Hong Kong) Limited, Fliggy, Klook, KKday, and Trip.com. The Special Exhibition ticket is priced at HKD 160 for adults and HKD 80 for visitors eligible for concessions*. Visitors with Special Exhibition tickets can access I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture and all M+ General Admission exhibitions starting from Saturday, 29 June 2024. For more information on ticketing arrangements, please visit the M+ website.

*Concession tickets are available for full-time students, children ages 7 to 11, senior citizens ages 60 or above, persons with disabilities and one companion, and Comprehensive Social Security Assistance (CSSA) recipients.

M+ Membership

M+’s annual membership and patron membership offer an exclusive experience of contemporary visual culture for people of all ages and backgrounds. All M+ Members with valid memberships can enjoy three free admission vouchers to Special Exhibitions throughout the membership year, including I. M. Pei: Life Is Architecture. Meanwhile, M+ Patrons can enjoy unlimited free admission to all exhibitions with up to three guests per visit. M+ Members and Patrons can also enjoy exclusive previews to Special Exhibitions prior to public opening and thirty to fifty per cent discounts on Special Exhibition tickets. Other membership benefits include unlimited free access to General Admission exhibitions, exclusive access to the M+ Lounge, M+ Private Viewing, priority booking of tickets, exclusive events, and more. For more information, please visit the M+ website.

About I. M. Pei

Ieoh Ming Pei (1917–2019) was born in Guangzhou before moving to Hong Kong in 1918. Pei spent his teenage years in Shanghai and Suzhou before beginning his architectural education in the United vStates in 1935. He completed his undergraduate studies at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 1940 and his graduate degree at Harvard University’s Graduate School of Design in 1946. In 1948, Pei headed the architectural division of Webb & Knapp, founded by real estate developer William Zeckendorf, in New York City. There, Pei’s projects included Kips Bay Plaza (1957–1962), Mile High Center (1952–1956), and Society Hill (1957–1964). I. M. Pei & Associates, informally established in 1955, became independent from Webb & Knapp in 1960. Important commissions included the National Center for Atmospheric Research (1961–1967), Everson Museum of Art (1961–1968), and John F. Kennedy Presidential Library and Museum (1964–1979). The firm was renamed I. M. Pei & Partners in 1966. The late 1960s was marked by major public commissions like the National Gallery of Art East Building (1968–1978) and Pei’s increasing international presence with projects such as the OCBC Centre (1970–1976), Fragrant Hill Hotel (1979–1982), Bank of China Tower (1982–1989), and the modernisation of the Grand Louvre (1983–1993). Pei became the fifth Pritzker Architecture Prize Laureate in 1983. In 1990, Pei retired from full-time practice as I. M. Pei & Partners was restructured as Pei Cobb Freed & Partners, but he nevertheless took on projects independently, like the Miho Museum (1991–1997), Suzhou Museum (2000–2006), Museum of Islamic Art (2000–2008), and, lastly, the Miho Institute of Aesthetics Chapel (2008–2012).

About M+

M+ is a museum dedicated to collecting, exhibiting, and interpreting visual art, design and architecture, moving image, and Hong Kong visual culture of the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. In Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, it is one of the largest museums of modern and contemporary visual culture in the world, with a bold ambition to establish ourselves as one of the world’s leading cultural institutions. M+ is a new kind of museum that reflects our unique time and place, a museum that builds on Hong Kong’s historic balance of the local and the international to define a distinctive and innovative voice for Asia’s twenty-first century.

About the West Kowloon Cultural District

The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on forty hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing twenty-three hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.