This September 2026, Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong transforms into a sanctuary of Spatialism, presenting a major monographic exhibition by the Argentine-Italian visionary Lucio Fontana (1899 – 1968). Titled ‘Spatialism. Pioneering the Contemporary,’ this highly anticipated presentation marks the final chapter of a prestigious trilogy - following major outings in Los Angeles and New York

Spatialism and the Radical Transformation of Contemporary Art
17 September – 19 December 2026
Hauser & Wirth Hong Kong

‘I pierce this canvas that was the basis of all art and I have created an infinite dimension. The idea is right there, it is a new dimension corresponding to the cosmos.’

— Lucio Fontana

Curated by Luca Massimo Barbero in collaboration with the Fondazione Lucio Fontana, the exhibition is a sensory exploration of the "infinite dimension".  It traces Fontana's radical departure from traditional painting through his seminal Buchi (Holes) and Tagli (Cuts), where the canvas is no longer a flat surface for representation, but a site of architectural intervention. By slashing and piercing the fabric, Fontana invites light and shadow to pass through, creating a dialogue between the artwork and the surrounding space that remains profoundly relevant to modern biophilic design and minimal aesthetics.

The exhibition experience is enriched by the launch of a significant new monograph from Hauser & Wirth Publishers. For the discerning Chinese collector and design enthusiast, this volume marks the first comprehensive introduction to Fontana’s practice in Simplified Chinese. It offers a rare, scholarly deep-dive into a career that spanned from the 1920s to the late 1960s, featuring specifically translated writings that articulate his philosophy of materiality and cosmic space.

Visitors are guided through the evolution of the Buchi series, beginning in 1949, where the act of perforation once considered scandalous is now recognized as a futuristic opening into the unknown. The journey culminates in the internationally acclaimed Concetti Spaziali, Attese - the iconic Tagli. These elegant, precise slits are described by Fontana as an "act of faith in the infinite," achieving a sculptural purity that anticipates the American shaped canvas movement and absolute spatial freedom.

The installation highlights Fontana's mastery of pure white, deep black, and metallic gold and silver. These works react dynamically with the gallery environment, activating changing perceptions of depth. Alongside these paintings, the Nature series - bronze sculptures resembling extraterrestrial spheres - further underscores the artist's exhaustive richness. Together, they confirm Lucio Fontana as a true precursor to our contemporary world, where the boundaries between sculpture, architecture, and lifestyle are perpetually dissolved.