Mobile art museum or French fashion fraud?
The Chanel Mobile Art by Zaha Hadid raises curiosity and provides a stunning contrast to the local skyline. (Photo: Tony Sze/Chanel)
A few weeks ago, a squat, white structure, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, took shape on a car park rooftop in Hong Kong. The container houses a major international art show, which is called Chanel Mobile Art and is being financed by the French luxury goods company. The exhibition in Hong Kong, the first stop of a two-year world tour, runs until April 5 and showcases the works of 20 international contemporary artists.
Chanel required all the artists to produce work inspired by the quilted handbag, the “2.55,” for “February 1955″ when it was designed by Coco Chanel. Exhibit highlights include a film by Nobuyoshi Araki of Japan of a (Chanel) chained woman; tattooed stuffed pigs and matching purses by Wim Delvoye of Belgium. The exhibit moves to Tokyo in July and New York in September. The Chanel boutique nearby sells a limited-edition Mobile Art 2.55 bag in black for about $3,000.
Personal reactions to the show have ranged from comments like “a very nice escape” to “very French, pretentious, verbose, bossy.” However, the show has been fully booked up to the closing date. In 2009, it will be shown in London and Moscow, and will end in Paris in July 2010.
Overview of the the Chanel Mobile Art pavilion on Hong Kong’s harbour front.
Read the in-depth review in the International Herald Tribune (March 24, 2008)
Go to Chanel Mobile Art website
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