Paris is chic, New York is edgy, Tokyo is eccentric, but what about Hong Kong?

On May 8^th, I was invited to attend an important lecture held at Solent University. Two guest speakers from the Hong Kong Design Institute came to deliver a lecture on contemporary and historical Chinese fashion and design.

The first speaker, Victor Tong, delivered a talk titled ‘Chinese Opera Mask Art’. He taught us that colour in Chinese Opera masks helps the audience immediately identify the characteristics of the character because different colours have different representations. As well as colour, symbols printed on the masks of characters plays a key role in defining their personality and delivers a more in depth meaning than colours. Tong demonstrated the influences of symbols and colour on not only traditional Beijing Opera masks (Leslie Cheung’s ‘Farewell My Concubine) but also modern interpretations (Chinese Opera version of Thor, God of Thunder). He also went on to show current trends that include the traditional Chinese masks in fashion e.g. SS07 Just Cavalli fashion line and Usain Bolt’s 2008 Puma campaign.

It was really fascinating to hear of all the different meanings behind colour and symbols and especially intriguing to realise that these masks and still being used today. They’re timeless pieces of artwork from a culture rich in colour and symbolism.

The second speaker, Pacino Wan, held a talk titled ‘The Fashion Battlefield in China’. He spoke of the hardships he encountered whilst trying to make it as a successful fashion designer in Hong Kong. This is entirely understandable considering the top 2 market places for retail space are Hong Kong and New York. He wanted to alter and shape women’s street fashion. Today, Wan is deemed a successful fashion designer in Hong Kong and throughout the world. He kindly shared with us his unique and innovative designs. Wan’s talk was slightly pushed for time and however we got to see a video montage of his runway shows and amazing clothing collections from when he was just starting out, to his most up to date lines of women’s wear.

It was lovely to hear of Pacino Wan’s journey to success, a real life reminder that it is possible to achieve your dreams and overcome great difficulties to stand out and make a name for yourself.

IMAGE REFERENCES

Peking Opera Mask_Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development Official Website. 2014. Peking Opera Mask_Beijing Municipal Commission of Tourism Development Official Website. [ONLINE] Available at: http://english.visitbeijing.com.cn/shopping/souvenirs/n214737740.shtml. [Accessed 28 September 2014].

Fashion Studio Magazine: ART EXHIBITIONS - HONG KONG. 2014.Fashion Studio Magazine: ART EXHIBITIONS - HONG KONG. [ONLINE] Available at: http://www.fashionstudiomagazine.com/2011/12/art-exhibitions-hong-kong.html. [Accessed 28 September 2014].