NUOVO
In dialogue with Pak Man Lee
FVTVRIST Magazine // Text by Anna S.
12 April 2026
For Hong Kong Art Week 2026, NUOVO made a different kind of proposal. The project centred on Kwangho Lee's Sequence exhibition, bringing together his sculptural chairs, a modular carpet installation by cc-tapis, and a listening environment shaped in collaboration with Bang & Olufsen. Structured through the logic of the Fibonacci sequence, the exhibition unfolded as a spatial composition where design extended beyond form into rhythm, repetition, and time.
FVTVRIST spoke with Pak Man Lee, creative director, furniture design curator, and CEO of his family’s traditional furniture business, about the vision behind NUOVO, the sensorial logic of Sequence, and his approach to shaping a space where design, music, and lived experience converge.
© Courtesy of NUOVO.
Pak Man Lee, portrait © Courtesy of NUOVO.
NUOVO positions itself as more than a gallery, closer to a living environment where design, sound, and people intersect. What was the original vision behind the space, and what kind of atmosphere are you ultimately creating?
While our roots lie in furniture, our approach to art is distinct. If Art Basel and Design Miami represent two ends of a spectrum, we position ourselves closer to Design Miami. The original concept of this space was to blur the boundaries between design and art, while building a community around this dialogue.
As a collector, I see collecting as a way of life. It is not only about acquiring a painting or a sculpture, but about engaging with the elements that define who you are. Through our curation, we aim to share this philosophy.
1/ Bang & Olufsen LTD Beolab 90
2/ Kwangho Lee Chairs Still Alive
3/Bang & Olufsen LTD Beolab 90
4/ Installation view at NUOVO
© Courtesy of NUOVO.
GHOST IN THE SHELL
© Courtesy of Kwangho Lee and NUOVO.
GHOST IN THE SHELL
© Courtesy of Kwangho Lee and NUOVO.
During Art Basel Hong Kong, the city becomes highly accelerated, visually and socially. NUOVO, in contrast, seemed to offer a more grounded, sensory experience. Do you consciously position the space as a different kind of rhythm within that week?
“Yeah, just chill, art people.” Our space is conceived as a place to pause, reflect, and meditate before moving on to the next gallery opening or event. We encourage visitors to take a piece of paper and begin drawing, writing, or simply reflecting on the artworks they have encountered throughout the day.
We also aim to reach those in Hong Kong and at Art Basel who experience a deep connection between art and music. In collaboration with White Noise Records and DJ Ken, we have curated a musical journey that spans history, from the post–World War II resonance of Richard Wagner to the revolutionary “free jazz” inflections of Funkadelic, alongside classical Chinese pop.
Ultimately, we want our audience to form a singular connection with Kwangho Lee’s design. It is about more than objects; it is about the totality of the atmosphere we are shaping.
From left to right: Daniel Lora, Kwangho Lee, Pak Man Lee.
© Courtesy of NUOVO.
On a personal level, what kind of music do you return to? If you had to choose one artist, band, or even one genre that defines your taste, what would it be?
Oh my God… there are so many. Most of what I listen to on Spotify is quite niche, often by artists with fewer than 10,000 followers. But if I had to narrow it down, artists like Robert Wyatt, Supertramp, and Radiohead have truly defined my musical taste.
What kind of design or art do you collect yourself, and what triggers that decision, is it emotional, intellectual, or instinctive?
I have a wide-ranging collection, spanning from Francis Bacon and Wu Guanzhong to Dozie Kanu, Javier Barrios, Kwangho Lee, and Ron Arad. While there is no fixed pattern to my acquisitions, every piece holds a strong personal connection for me.
Eclecticism has been a central philosophy in my approach to design. I am drawn to mixing and juxtaposing different eras, backgrounds, and intentions, allowing these contrasts to form something singular. Since I was young, I never liked following the crowd, which may seem unusual for someone growing up as an ’80s baby in Hong Kong. I have always strived to be different, and I have always believed in myself. I know that if I continue believing and moving forward, it will eventually become my own story.
SINCE I WAS YOUNG, I NEVER LIKED FOLLOWING THE CROWD. I ALWAYS STRIVED TO BE DIFFERENT, AND I HAVE ALWAYS BELIEVED IN MYSELF. I KNOW THAT IF I KEEP BELIEVING AND MOVING FORWARD, IT WILL EVENTUALLY BECOME MY OWN STORY.
How would you describe your own taste today? Has it become more minimal, more layered, or more experimental over time?
Honestly, the more I read about design, art, and aesthetics in general, the more I begin to question what I actually like. Lately, perhaps it is my age, I find myself turning to history books and documentaries. At auctions, I am drawn to objects like a 400 BC trilobite fossil or Leonardo da Vinci’s notebooks. What I see in them is a journey. I often tell people that I am a “prostitute” of art and design; I simply find beauty in everything.
Exchange Circle Collectors Talk with Pak Man Lee, Art Basel Hong Kong 2026
© Courtesy of Pak Man Lee and NUOVO.
Finally, are there particular artists or designers who have shaped your way of seeing and building NUOVO?
Carlo Mollino is our blueprint. He was not just a designer; he was a racer, a pilot, a photographer, and an architect. He lived his life with a relentless, high-speed aesthetic that we have adopted as part of NUOVO’s DNA. We do not see ourselves as merely a furniture brand; rather, we see ourselves as a modern reflection of Mollino’s polymath spirit. We aim to move fluidly between different business models and creative disciplines, whether through curation, property, or lifestyle, without ever losing that obsessive, refined edge.
It is about constructing a world that is as dynamic and aesthetic as the life he led.
From left to right: Kwangho Lee, Daniel Lora, Pak Man Lee.
© Courtesy of NUOVO.
About NUOVO
Located in the heart of Hong Kong’s Central district, NUOVO occupies G03, The Galleria, 9 Queen’s Road Central, positioning itself within one of the city’s most concentrated cultural and commercial arteries. A must-visit destination in Central, the space offers a distinct alternative to the conventional gallery model.
Founded by Pak Man Lee, NUOVO extends the legacy of a traditional family furniture business into a contemporary, multidisciplinary context. The project is conceived not only as a gallery, but as an evolving environment for dialogue, bringing together furniture, collectible design, sound, and spatial experimentation. Through a program of collaborations with international designers and cultural partners, NUOVO seeks to offer new ways of encountering objects, shifting the focus from function toward perception, atmosphere, and narrative.
At its core, NUOVO is driven by a desire to redefine how design is experienced. Each presentation becomes a curated condition, where the boundaries between exhibition, interior, and social space dissolve, allowing visitors to engage with design not as something static, but as something to inhabit, to feel, and to continuously reinterpret.
