M+: an emphasis on local visual culture 

Apart from the eminent architecture, M+ brings major breakthroughs also to the mode of display and the curated collections. While traditional museums focus on exhibiting, collecting, and analysing, M+ focuses on creative interaction by opening the artist square space for public participation and social connection, which defines contemporary art with a new perspective. Curated contents in M+ extend from the traditional visual arts to visual culture, encompassing popular culture, internet culture, and technology-oriented methods of expression. With Hong Kong visual culture being the core of the M+ Collections, architecture sketches and models, graphic designs, industrial goods, album covers, posters, video games, and more are placed alongside artworks to highlight the local distinctiveness.

First Special Exhibition: ‘Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now’

To celebrate M+’s first anniversary, the museum is hosting its first special exhibition from November 2022 to take visitors into the world of the ‘Polka Dot Queen’. Yayoi Kusama: 1945 to Now brings over 200 famous pieces by the Japanese artist to various spaces at M+, including major collections from museums in Asia, Europe and the US, as well as works from several private collections, the M+ Collections and personal collections from the artist herself. Don’t miss the three sets of new works shown for the first time at M+, including Death of Nerves (2022), which is installed in the Lightwell that connects the museum’s ground floor and the basement levels; Dots Obsession—Aspiring to Heaven’s Love (2022), which is presented in The Studio on the B2 level; and two large sculptures titled Pumpkin (2022) in the Main Hall on the ground floor.

The exhibition is split into six themes, which cover a range of multimedia works such as painting, installation, sculptures, sketching, collage and moving image. Open from 12 November 2022 to 14 May 2023, it’s the biggest Kusama retrospective exhibition in Asia besides Japan. Don’t miss it if you’re a fan of the ‘Polka Dot Queen’! 

Interactive experiences for visitors

Besides physical exhibits, M+ also offers visitors a range of interactive experiences through its vast collection of moving image works and specially designed spaces. The Mediatheque on the ground floor serves as the contact point between visitors and moving image works in the M+ Collections. The Grand Stair not only connects the ground floor to the second floor, but also serves as a public space for speeches, screenings and other activities. The Cabinet on the second floor is also a site for interactive activities: as a publicly accessible art storage facility, over 200 items in the M+ Collections are dynamically showcased here. Visitors are welcome to use their mobile devices to interact with the collections.

M+ Facade: a large-scale moving image platform

It’s easy to spot the M+ Facade across the harbour when you look towards the West Kowloon Cultural District from Hong Kong Island. As night falls, the facade comes alive with films shown on its surface. As one of the biggest media walls in the world, the seaside M+ Facade is covered in thousands of LED bulbs, turning it into an innovative curatorial space and an ever-evolving digital platform. Audiences can appreciate the M+ Collections and digital collections from any perspectives, distance and lighting conditions through this facade.

M+ Playscape: zero distance contact with art pieces 

Aside from the exhibition space and the roof garden that affords sweeping views of the Victoria Harbour, the M+ Playscape located in the North Roof Garden is also worth visiting.

M+ Playscape was officially open to the public in April 2022. Here, you’ll find a few benches and play sculptures adapted from California Scenario (1980–1982, Costa Mesa, California, United States) by the famous sculptor and designer Isamu Noguchi. Noguchi encourages the audience to freely interact with the sculptures, which include several configurations of Octetra, a Play Pyramid excerpted from a makeshift playground Kodomo no kuni (1965–1966, Yokohama, Japan), and a Play Mound adapted from Piedmont Park’s Playscapes (1975–1976, Atlanta, Georgia, United States). These play structures are designed to stimulate our senses, inspire experiential experimentation, and connect the body and the imagination.

All the works placed in M+ Playscape are semi-permanent installations. You may touch and even climb on them, but do take caution and stay safe! 

Shopping and dining at M+ 

M+ not only boasts a diverse collection of contemporary artworks, but also offers a dynamic shopping and dining experience at the two museum shops, restaurants and the Roof Garden that commands spectacular views of Hong Kong’s skyline. The Other Shop and the M+ Shop both feature a wide collection of delicately crafted creative products that invite you to explore the connection between life and visual culture. The display shelves in The Other Shop ignite curiosity for art in visitors with their vibrant colours while showcasing M+ publications and various creative goods.

Feeling tired from all the walking in the museum? Take a break at CURATOR Creative Café at M+, which serves up drinks and snacks in a relaxing dining setting with the view of the waterfront promenade. More restaurants have also landed at M+, including the members-only and patrons-only M+ Lounge; the Korean restaurant Mosu Hong Kong, which opened in 2022 and offers creative dishes; and ADD+, which provides all-day food and beverage services. There’s something for every palate in the museum. 

With the mission to connect art in Mainland China, the rest of Asia and the world, M+ signifies Hong Kong’s passion and determination to foster the development of contemporary art. In the mood for more culture after your visit? Take a look at our neighbourhood guide to the West Kowloon Cultural District to visit other cultural spots and enjoy beautiful sunset views of the Victoria Harbour.