Lee Ufan is recognized for his unconventional artistic processes which underscore the relationship between the viewer, the artwork, and the spaces they inhabit and for philosophical writings that challenge prevailing notions of artmaking with attention on spatial and temporal conditions.

The Art & Environment Prize was created in collaboration with Guerlain to commemorate the first anniversary of the Lee Ufan Arles Art Centre, which was established by South Korean artist Lee Ufan. Every year, a project with an international reach that examines the many fruitful connections between artistic expression and the environment is awarded the prize.

“I’m not looking to verbalize the world or appropriate it, but to be connected to it, to perceive it.”  Lee Ufan said.

Guerlain has long created synergies with nature, through multiple partnerships and initiatives within the scope of the Guerlain for Bees Conservation Programme and beyond. The Maison has enjoyed a special relationship with bees since the creation of its iconic Bee Bottle in 1853 and has made protection of this natural wonder a cornerstone of its commitments.

“Our aim is to go even further in our commitment to the bees that inspire our creations and guide our actions. This is a fundamental objective for the House. What’s more, protecting bees figures at the very heart of our Raison d’Être.”— Gabrielle Saint-Genis Rodriguez, President and CEO of Guerlain.

Guerlain and Lee Ufan have strong ties to the arts and the environment, and they both appreciate the value of preserving and promoting artistic craftsmanship. They see this award as a way to promote artistic works based on environmental responsibility. The award, which stems from similar ideals, connects Guerlain’s dedication with Lee Ufan’s efforts.

With the launch of the Prize last year, which grants one young artist annually a residency and exhibition at Lee Ufan Arles, a recently opened exhibition space in the city designed by Tadao Ando, this new creative bottle represents an expansion of Guerlain and Ufan’s collaboration.

Ufan collaborated with Maison Bernardaud to create the bottle, which was made of pristine white chiselled porcelain and tastefully accentuated with a silk string around the neck and stopper and a dab of green paint.

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