Art Deco: The France-China Connection

Why We Recommend it

Travel back in time through precious Art Deco objects from China and France created by the bold and daring who made the famous proclamation “one must be modern and make it known to the world”.

Description

Stemming from the name “Arts Décoratifs” from the Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes held in Paris in 1925, Art Deco is widely considered to be the first art style to break geographical boundaries and gain worldwide popularity.

Characterised by the pastiche of many different styles – sometimes contradictory but all united by a desire to be modern, the French and American artistic influence has over the years found its way to Hong Kong and Shanghai. It is a symbol of luxury, glamour, exuberance and faith in social and technological progress.

Centring on the France China-Connection, the CityU Exhibition Gallery will showcase more than 300 pieces of Art Deco-style exhibits, including furniture, sculptures, paintings, posters, costumes, ceramic glassware, vases, jewellery, cosmetic cases and other precious objects from museums, institutions and private collectors in France, Hong Kong and Shanghai.

Special highlights are a bas-relief by Maurice ‘Pico’ Picaud (pictured), Chinese posters depicting female pilots, a Vionnet flapper dress, as well as unique Chinese vanity tables for ladies.

The exhibition will be companioned by the talk Liu Jipiao, Father of Chinese Art Deco on 6 March 2019.

Details

When: 6 Mar 2019 - 21 Jul 2019 Where: CityU Exhibition Gallery, 18/F, Lau Ming Wai Academic Building, City University of Hong Kong – 83 Tat Chee Avenue – Kowloon Tong