Chanel's Mobile Art Starts Global Tour in Hong Kong
Inspired by a classic Chanel bag, the Mobile Art gallery will be in Hong Kong till April 5
At first glance, it looked like a UFO had landed in the middle of Hong Kong – in the Star Ferry carpark to be exact. In fact, it's a traveling museum called Mobile Art by French luxury brand Chanel.
Mademoiselle CoCo Chanel used to say: "I want to be part of what is happening." It can't be more of a happening than this futuristic contemporary art container created by Pritzker winner, UK-based architect Zaha Hadid.
The mobile gallery is inspired by one of Chanel's signature creations, the quilted 2.55 bag named after its month and year of issue.
Mobile Art showcases the works of some 20 artists around the world including Japanese photographer Nobuyoshi Araki, French artist Sophie Calle and Yoko Ono, widow of slain Beatle John Lennon.
A traveling project, with entry free to all, Mobile Art will "land" for a number of weeks in some of the largest cities in Asia, the United States and Europe over the next two years.
The exhibition runs from February though April 5 in Hong Kong, Asia's shopping hub, before moving to Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow and finally Paris in 2010.
Global interpretation
Chanel designer Karl Lagerfeld invited Zaha Hadid to create the Mobile Art Pavilion. "The value of her designs is similar to that of great poetry. The potential of her imagination is enormous," said Mr. Lagerfeld during the launch of the Mobile Art Pavilion at the 2007 Venice Art Biennale.
Ms. Hadid herself said: "I see the Pavilion as a kind of total artwork that continually reinvents itself as it moves from Asia to the U.S. and Europe."
She created an entire landscape for their work, rather than just an exhibition space. Visitors will be guided through the space using the latest digital technology developed in collaboration with the artists.
The organic shell of the Pavilion is created with a succession of arched segments, allowing the Pavilion to be easily transported in separate, manageable elements.
It is no small feat to disassemble, assemble and transport all the structural elements from one place to another. Chanel has chosen well to start the Mobile Art Pavilion in Hong Kong. The city is after all, the shopping paradise of Asia and it is also a logistics hub.
Mobile Art: http://chanel-mobileart.com/
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