To be honest I had never heard of the internationally acclaimed Chinese fashion designer, coutourier and artist, Guo Pei before her exhibition, Guo Pei: Fashion. Art. Fantasy. opened at Auckland Art Gallery. I went to see it yesterday on the recommendation of a friend. All I can say is that I was completely blown away by the astonishing beauty and inventiveness of her creations. The garments on show are taken from eight of her couture collections and lead visitors through dream lands, magical gardens, gothic tales, cosmic and ancient Chinese myths and legends.
The luxurious silk fabrics dripping with beading, crystals and exquisite embroidery and unusual materials combine to make extraordinary works of art. Guo Pei employs over 500 people in her workshop many of whom are embroiderers. She has made it her mission to bring back the ancient skill of Chinese embroidery, something which was lost during the Mao period. Although she does design more prosaic garments for wealthy Chinese the garments on display here are from her Couture as Art designs."The culture of China is just like the blood that runs through my veins, it's my life. China has more than 5000 years of history....that has greatly enriched my designs and is essentially a foundation of my work" Guo Pei
The most famous and notable garment on display is the yellow dress Rhianna wore at the 2015 Met Gala in New York. In China yellow symbolises power and status and was worn only by the emperor. Named Imperial Yellow it weighs 25 kg and took two years to complete including 50,000 hours of embroidery. It was this garment that gained Guo Pei international recognition, she was already well known in China. She was invited to become a member of the Chambre Syndicate de la Haute Couture in Paris and has works now held in art museums in America, Europe and China.
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| Imperial Yellow - worn by Rhianna at the Met Gala 2015 |
"Clothing..is like architecture for the human body. In both fashion and architecture are many works that express the transcendent spiritual realm, a pursuit of the soul, of the spiritscape" Guo Pei
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| Inspired by a painting by Goya |
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| Guo Pei's take on traditional blue and white china. |
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This surreal dress is shaped like the inverted hull of a boat, gliding to an imagined realm.
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Inspired by a visit to a Swiss
cathedral |
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| Her shoes are as inventive as her dresses |
I am in awe of Guo Pei's inventiveness and creativity, her garments truly are works of art. This is a sublime exhibition and I would encourage anyone who can to make a point of visiting it. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment and happily lingered for a very long time.
Note: These photos are a tiny snapshot, there are 60 garments in all.
The exhibition runs until 5 May 2024
Below Right: Close up of some of the exquisite embroidery
