12th July 2024 – (Hong Kong) M+, Asia’s renowned museum of contemporary visual culture located in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District, is delighted to announce the unveiling of “Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination.” This highly anticipated exhibition marks the celebrated Chinese couture artist Guo Pei’s first major showcase in East Asia. Organised in close collaboration with Guo Pei and her studio, the exhibition is generously supported by Lead Sponsor HSBC. Visitors will have the opportunity to experience this extraordinary display in the Main Hall Gallery of M+, with an additional presentation in the public space of the Main Hall on the ground floor. The exhibition will officially open to the public on Saturday, 21st September 2024.
Guo Pei stands among China’s pioneering contemporary fashion designers, with a career spanning nearly four decades. Her creative vision reflects the intersection of Asian and global cultural trends throughout the past century. Guo’s imaginative work seamlessly fuses historic Chinese craftsmanship, contemporary aesthetics, and elements of both Chinese and Western tailoring. This unique blend has enabled her to create exquisite haute couture collections showcased in Paris, where she continues to make a profound impact. Haute couture, an artisanal dressmaking practice originating in the nineteenth century, finds its revitalization at the hands of Guo and her team. They have skillfully adapted traditional Chinese embroidery techniques and couture craftsmanship to breathe new life into this intangible cultural heritage, infusing it with cross-cultural influences.
“Guo Pei: Fashioning Imagination” features over forty stunning haute couture showpieces on loan from Guo’s atelier, Rose Studio. These masterpieces engage in a captivating dialogue with selected works of art and design from the M+ Collections, creating an interconnected network of visual and thematic ideas that transcend artistic disciplines and cultural backgrounds. Guo Pei’s breathtaking creations not only exemplify her creative philosophy and evolution within haute couture but also unveil the transformative power of fashion and art.
The exhibition is curated by Ikko Yokoyama, Lead Curator of Design and Architecture at M+, with the invaluable support of Wen Bi, Assistant Curator, and Mankit Lai, Curatorial Assistant. Together, they have collaborated closely with Guo Pei and her atelier, Rose Studio, to curate an immersive experience that showcases Guo’s creative universe. The exhibition is organized around five main themes, offering visitors insights into Guo’s international career and her extraordinary design journey.
“The Joy of Life” explores Guo’s exhilarating collections, such as “Garden of Soul” (2015) and “An Amazing Journey in a Childhood Dream” (2007). These works evoke a sense of wonder, combining elements of nature and personal memories to create fairy-like figures, floral paradises, and dreamlike landscapes that capture the vibrancy of nature and the innocence of childhood. The exhibition also features paintings and objects from the M+ Collections, inspired by fables, fantasies, and the natural world.
“New Tales from the East” takes inspiration from Eastern folktales and delves into ancient cultural forms and symbols, reimagining them with contemporary flair. Collections like “1002 Nights” (2009) draw from the famous “One Thousand and One Nights” tales, while “East Palace” (2019) incorporates ancient Chinese mythological imagery and imperial motifs. Notably, the exhibition includes Guo’s iconic gown “The Yellow Queen,” worn by Rihanna at the Met Gala in 2015, which catapulted Guo Pei to international fame.
“Transcending Space” explores Guo’s fascination with architecture as a rich source of inspiration. Through works like “Legends” (2017) and “L’Architecture” (2018), Guo reimagines fashion as a moving architecture that envelops the human body, drawing inspiration from Baroque and Gothic churches. Complementing these works are photographs and paintings from the M+ Collections that offer a glimpse into how other artists find inspiration in architecture.
“Ethereal Mythologies” showcases Guo’s collections that reimagine Eastern and Western mythologies, illuminating their histories, beliefs, and ancestral stories. Noteworthy pieces include “Legend of the Dragon” (2012), which captures the majestic beauty and symbolic significance of the mythical creature in Chinese culture, and “Elysium” (2018), an ode to an eternal paradise brimming with natural scenes.
“On Dreams and Reality” delves into Guo’s reflections on time, space, and reunion. Collections like “Samsara” (2006) explore the rhythms of nature, while “Encounter” (2016) embodies Guo’s use of unconventional fabrics and dramatic colors. This section of the exhibition is complemented by works from the M+ Collections that explore concepts of time and the human life cycle.
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