GUO PEI: CHINESE ART AND COUTURE AT ASIAN CIVILISATIONS MUSEUM

‘Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture’ exhibition opened on June 15th at the Asian Civilizations Museum (ACM) in Singapore.

The exhibition counts with 20 Chinese art masterpieces from ACM and 29 Guo Pei couture dresses to present a dialogue between historical and contemporary Chinese design and introduce materials like silk and porcelain, the craft of embroidery, motifs like peonies and phoenixes. This is the first kind of exhibition Guo Pei has launched in Asia. Also is the first exhibition from ACM that is dedicated to fashion and is representative of shift to the contemporary domain.

From a long-lasting cooperation with Guo Pei, BONAVERI is honored to have supplied the mannequins. The Schläppi 2200 poses look stunning on custom-made color made especially for Guo Pei.

‘Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture’ exhibition is divided into three sections: ‘Gold is the Colour of my Soul’, ‘China and the World’ and ‘Treasured Heirlooms’.

Gold is the Colour of my Soul

In ‘Gold is the Colour of my Soul’, Guo Pei’s signature yellow and gold works reflect the historical significance of the colour, techniques, and materials strongly associated with imperial China.

China and the World

Through ‘China and the World’, Guo Pei’s hybrid designs parallel Chinese export art in blending Chinese imagery creatively with Western silhouettes and tailoring.

Treasured Heirlooms

In ‘Treasured Heirlooms’, Guo Pei’s works continue to modernize traditional Chinese bridal style, with strong Peranakan connections; and they have found relevance with celebrity brides today, including Angelababy, Tang Yan, and Liu Shishi.

Every sightline in the exhibition space emphasizes 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. Just as how in the past Chinese export art garnered demand around the world, its reinvention and modern interpretations continue to fascinate the world today and provoke visitors to consider how the past continues to inspire the future.