HONG KONG — There was barely room to breathe at the after party for “Pradasphere,” the traveling exhibition that opened on the rooftop of Central Ferry Pier 4 here on Tuesday night. Hundreds of guests packed into the custom-built structure and jostled for standing room as Kiwi pop sensation Lorde belted out her catchy single “Royals” and a stream of other numbers.
Earlier in the evening, partygoers visited the exhibition upstairs, where they encountered a scene not unlike a Victorian wunderkammer, or cabinets of curiosities. On display were 68 looks housed in towering, curved wood-and-glass vitrines. Other glass cases were packed with an array of items ranging from a historic toad skin wallet to a more recent orange lace skirt dipped in rubber.
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The encyclopedic show, which debuted at London’s Harrods in May, documents Miuccia Prada’s engagement with fashion, art, architecture and history.
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“We settled on the idea of a natural history museum, which is about the whole ecosystem of the world,” said co-curator Michael Rock, who cited a grand museum hall with displays of dinosaur bones as a source of inspiration.
Highlights of the show included a VIP lounge covered in green silk velvet that overlooks the harbor; a screening room showing experimental films resulting from Miuccia Prada’s collaborations; and an architectural model of Rem Koolhaas’ art center complex for Fondazione Prada in Milan.
Spotted among the crowd were Asian film celebrities, including Chinese actress Gong Li, Korean actress Gong Hyo-jin and photographer Wing Shya alongside members of the fashion set, like Gieves & Hawkes creative director Jason Basmajian.
Asked what sets the Hong Kong exhibition apart, Rock replied: “[The show at] Harrods was in a department store on the fourth floor. This is much more public. It’s on top of one of the most busy piers in the city. We really liked that feeling of being right at this point of exchange where all these things are happening.”
The city was an obvious choice for Prada, according to Rock. “Hong Kong has a very sophisticated audience that’s very familiar with the brand,” he said adding that “[Prada] is listed in the Hong Kong Exchange, their IPO is in Hong Kong and their investor base is here.”
He also noted that the exhibition was an opportunity for the Mainland Chinese audience to become better acquainted with the brand.
“Prada has a very real commitment to China,” said Rock. “Right now they are involved in the restoration of this important historic house in Shanghai called the Rong residence.”
Rock described the residence as the brand’s future “cultural headquarters in China” and said “Pradasphere” will travel to the venue alongside other cities in Asia.
Hong Kong-based architectural design studio Atelier Pacific confirmed that it is working with Prada on the restoration of the building. The villa, which dates to about 1918, was the former residence of prominent Chinese industrialist Rong Zongjing. The firm is aiming to complete the project next year. Prada declined to comment.