GRAND RAPIDS, MICH.- Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park announces the acquisition and permanent siting of a major work by Korean painter sculptor, Lee Ufan. Ufan specifically selected to place his minimalist and earthwork piece, Relatum: Forest Path, in the Gwen Frostic Woodland Shade Garden.

Known to respond specifically to a site, Ufan was invited to visit Meijer Gardens in 2012 and spent several days choosing a site for his piece. He returned in 2014 to carefully select the granite boulders from local quarries which would compose part of Relatum: Forest Path.

“For Meijer Gardens, the project with Lee Ufan is a milestone in our development as one of nation's leading arts and horticultural organizations,” said Joseph Becherer, vice president and chief curator at Meijer Gardens. "In this site-specific commission, he has thoroughly engaged with the Woodland Shade Garden in this monumental project with great sensitivity and insight."

This is the first time the Woodland Shade Garden, a quiet and peaceful area located near The Richard and Helen DeVos Japanese Garden, has had a permanent sculpture sited.

“This and recent acquisitions by Jenny Holzer and Ai Weiwei, among others, have been transformative this year for the organization now celebrating its 20th anniversary, drawing record attendance,” described Becherer.

Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park
One of the world’s most significant botanic and sculpture experiences, Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park serves nearly 600,000 visitors annually. Meijer Gardens was recently ranked in the top 100 most-visited art museums worldwide by Art Newspaper, the leading publication in global art news. The 158-acre grounds feature Michigan’s largest tropical conservatory; one of the largest children’s gardens in the country; arid and Victorian gardens with bronze sculptures by Degas and Rodin; a carnivorous plant house; outdoor gardens; and a 1900-seat outdoor amphitheater, featuring an eclectic mix of world-renowned musicians every summer. The internationally acclaimed Sculpture Park features a permanent collection including works by Rodin, Oldenburg, Moore, Serra, Bourgeois and Plensa, among others. Indoor galleries host changing sculpture exhibitions with recent exhibitions by Picasso, Degas, di Suvero, Borofsky, Calder and Dine. In June 2015, the 8–acre Richard & Helen DeVos Japanese Garden at Frederik Meijer Gardens & Sculpture Park opened. Created by renowned designer Hoichi Kurisu, the garden will also feature sculpture by Anish Kapoor, Zhang Huan and Guiseppe Penone, among others.