Hangzhou—Pearl Lam Galleries is proud to participate in Usee Design, part of the Alibaba U Design Show in Hangzhou. The gallery will showcase 22 selected works from seven designers and designer teams in the Conceptual Design section, which is one of the four major thematic pavilions. As a central part of Alibaba U Design Week, the Usee Design Show integrates art, design, trends, and technology. The exhibition will showcase a diverse mix of representative conceptual design pieces by Enrico Marone Cinzano (b. 1963), André Dubreuil (1951–2022), Pierre Marie Lejeune (b. 1954), A.A. MURAKAMI (the artist duo behind Studio Swine), Studio Makkink & Bey, XYZ Design, and Danful Yang (b. 1980).
As a leading gallery in Asia's contemporary art scene, Pearl Lam Galleries is known for encouraging cross-cultural dialogue between the East and West. All exhibited works were completed by the designers in China with their creations combining Chinese traditional handicraft techniques with Western modern art and design concepts. The media and themes of the works provide a new perspective for contemporary design.
A leading figure in contemporary decorative art and design, French designer André Dubreuil's works are infused with fantasy and classical style characteristics through his unique way of working with various materials. In the work Applique, Dubreuil's classic application of metal creates luxurious visual effects.
French artist Pierre Marie Lejeune is adept at using primitive, rough and uncut materials to create sculptures in different forms. His Iban, made with mirror stainless steel, glass, and other materials that contrast each other, is in the form of a geometric shape similar to a letter in the alphabet and showcases the artist's consistent simple style.
A.A. MURAKAMI, the design duo from UK and Japan behind Studio Swine, will exhibit a piece from their Hair series accessories. On show is a decorative ring that combines hair and natural resin and is inspired by the shapes of Shanghai decorative style. This series is also a modern interpretation of the silk road. China is the world's largest importer of tropical hardwood and exporter of hair. Composite materials made of hair and resin can bring sustainable alternatives to the Earth's dwindling hardwood resources. The duo is also exhibiting Cell 1, a foamed aluminium sculpture on a stainless-steel plinth.
Studio Makkink & Bey, led by architect Rianne Makkink and designer Jurgen Bey in the Netherlands, integrates concepts of urban planning, architecture, and landscape into their design to reveal the possibility of future design. Their Cleaning Beauty Dining Table is made of mirror stainless steel and is very sculptural in shape. Pushing and pulling the dining table drawers can also be associated with the traditional Chinese concept of yin and yang space.
XYZ Design is a design team led by Pearl Lam. It firmly believes that art, as an inclusive rather than exclusive medium, should give artists the freedom to experiment with new ways of expression as well as new media and new technologies. Inspired by cubism in the history of modern Western art, Cube Coffee Table features interspersed and overlapping stainless-steel cubes as the table base and constructs a futuristic urban landscape image.
Danful Yang is one of the earliest conceptual designers in Asia. She skillfully combines traditional Chinese handicrafts with Western modern materials and concepts to create dynamic and interesting works. Her iconic Fake Chair series integrates Chinese classical furniture with Western Rococo style. The conceptual chairs are made with a combination of imitation designer handbags and reflect today's global consumer culture while making a strong cross-cultural visual impact.
Also on show is the interactive installation work Second Chance, which was co-created by Danful Yang, Italian designer Enrico Marone Cinzano, and X.X.X. Studio. Marone Cinzano has long engaged in design concepts concerning environmental protection and sustainability, while Yang combines traditional Chinese handicrafts as tools with her humorous and self-depreciating attitude to express her views. They worked with X.X.X. Studio, a well-known custom motorcycle studio in Shanghai, to transform scrapped motorcycle parts into a "seesaw" work. The different cultural backgrounds of the East and the West, as well as the different ways of thinking between men and women, and the conflict between professionals and amateurs are among the elements that brought about a collision of creative ideas, projecting a new perspective on environmental protection, going green, energy conservation, and sustainability.
About Pearl Lam Galleries
Pearl Lam Galleries is a driving force within Asia's contemporary art scene. Founded in 2005, the gallery plays a vital role in stimulating international dialogue and cross-cultural exchange between the East and West.
Following a rigorous programme, Pearl Lam Galleries presents museum-quality exhibitions that re-evaluate and challenge perceptions of cultural practice in Asia. With a thoughtfully balanced roster of Chinese and international artists, the gallery is strategic in its curation, positioning itself as an educator.
The gallery maintains a flagship space in the historic Pedder Building in Hong Kong, whilst the Shanghai gallery is situated in the heritage architecture in the Bund district. With a team of international staff, Pearl Lam Galleries' reach is global, having presentations at major international art fairs including The Armory Show, Art Cologne, Art Basel Hong Kong, Frieze Masters, and West Bund Art and Design.
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Press release courtesy Pearl Lam Galleries.
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