FRIDAY, March 29, 2024
nationthailand

Tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary

Tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary

An haute couture collection by leading Chinese designer Guo Pei who shook the world with her lavish 25-kilogram canary yellow cape worn by Rihanna to New York’s Met Gala in 2015 has gone on display in the exhibition “Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture” at the Asian Civilisations Museum of Singapore.

The exhibition, which continues through September 15, opens the museum’s Season of Chinese Art, which will explore the best of the genre presented for a contemporary, international audience. With 20 Chinese art masterpieces from the Museum’s collection and 29 dresses by Guo Pei, this blockbuster exhibition spans two galleries and is part of the Museum’s commitment to examining the diverse cultural heritage of Asia.

 

Tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary


“The exhibition is significant to our visitors for two reasons. It is our first special exhibition dedicated to fashion and is representative of our shift to the contemporary domain. Our aim is to make the point that heritage and tradition are very much relevant to the contemporary; and that heritage and tradition can be remarkably sexy and alluring. Every masterpiece in the exhibition is a unique blend of contemporary and traditional design, material and craft. Second, the exhibition has been designed to give visitors a simple and visually arresting overview of Chinese art history – imperial art, export art, and folk art. We wanted a show that would introduce visitors to aspects of Chinese art – materials like silk and porcelain, the craft of embroidery, motifs like peonies and phoenixes – in a completely unexpected and, hopefully, very memorable fashion,” said Kennie Ting, director of Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum.

 

Tradition juxtaposed with the contemporary


The exhibition begins with a dramatic display of Yellow Queen, the iconic cape worn by Rihanna to the 2015 Met Gala. A symbol of Guo Pei’s breakthrough to an international market, the dress also represents a moment in time when the world encountered and engaged – through countless reactions, conversations, and memes – with a masterwork inspired by imperial China.
The main exhibition space features three sections. In “Gold is the Colour of my Soul”, Guo Pei’s signature yellow and gold works reflect the historical significance of colour, techniques, and materials strongly associated with imperial China.
Through “China and the World”, Guo Pei’s hybrid designs parallel Chinese art in blending Chinese imagery creatively with Western silhouettes and tailoring.
In “Treasured Heirlooms: Chinese Bridal Dress”, her works modernise the traditional Chinese bridal style, with strong Peranakan connections; and they have found relevance with celebrity brides today, including Angelababy, Liu Shi Shi, and Tang Yan.
Every sightline in the exhibition space emphasises a visual dialogue between the historical and the contemporary through deliberate juxtapositions of Chinese art masterpieces and Guo Pei’s masterworks. Each pairing shows off the best of Chinese traditional craftsmanship as well as modern couture techniques in the expression of creativity and storytelling. 
Keep updated at www.Acm.org.sg.
 

nationthailand