Hong Kong Design Centre

DMatters June 2023 Issue

Immerse yourself in a captivating realm where fashion and design intertwine, epitomizing the power of cross-disciplinary collaboration. Design Spectrum - The Full Gamut Exhibition, curated by the talented Vivienne Yu and Roger Wu, is a testament to the boundless creativity and innovation that emerges when designers fearlessly push boundaries, redefine the essence of fashion, and unveil the dynamic fusion of Western design aesthetics and local creativity in Hong Kong.

Exhibition that Explores Interconnectedness from Different Perspectives of People with Different Backgrounds

Curators of The Full Gamut Exhibition, Vivienne Yu and Roger Wu

Vivienne Yu, a visionary with a diverse background in architecture, education, and museum exhibit development, believes that successful interdisciplinary projects hinge on building relevance and creating accessible content for all. ‘Due to the historical and cultural influence of Western design aesthetics, local designers often strongly emphasize creating products in their own playful ways, blending functionality with local characteristics’, she says. With this ethos in mind, The Full Gamut Exhibition is ingeniously organized into five captivating themes: Environmental and Spatial Design, Fashion and Accessories Design, Communication Design, Product and Display Design, and Social and Inclusive Design. This allows visitors to explore the fashion industry through the lens of various design disciplines, all while enjoying the freedom to meander at their own pace.

The Full Gamut Exhibition has five zones showcasing over 40 remarkable exhibits

Roger Wu, hailing from a unique background with roots in Hong Kong and a global architectural expertise spanning Europe, China, the US and the Middle East, brings an unparalleled contextual perspective to the exhibition. He understands that culture is not an isolated entity but rather a product shaped by the diverse influences of its surroundings. As he says, ‘The network of designers and related personnel that may take years to establish in other places can sometimes be built up in a matter of months in Hong Kong,’ he continues, ‘This also happens across different design disciplines, creating many interesting opportunities for collaborations. Such drive to work together can also be seen in many international collaborations.’

Organised by Ear Up Music, Ear Up Gig On 2022 paired 8 artists with designer brands to showcase the city's new music scene and unique fashion designs, invigorating the spirit of local creativity. The picture showcased one of the design works.

Against the backdrop of such a close-knit and connected community, The Full Gamut Exhibition showcases over 40 remarkable exhibits. Each exhibit individually and collectively reflects the interplay between different design disciplines, unveiling the interconnectedness and transformative power of the fashion creative process.

Thematic Installations that Transcend  Time, Space, Thoughts, Materials and Skills

At The Full Gamut Exhibition, we have ‘Centennial: Lee Kung Man’ and ‘Anamorphic Synthesis’ - two glorious design installations capturing the attention of visitors!

‘Gradient of Centennial’ was created by Westley Wong and Frances Minji, drawing on Lee Kung Man (LKM)’s iconic ‘golden deer’ neon signage. The installation features 100 iconic LKM cotton shirts, and each shirt is dyed in 100 different colours. ‘Starting from the centre is the purest original white sweatshirt, which represents LKM’s novelty and history,’ says Frances Minji, ‘Hence, white is a combination of all colours in the colour spectrum,’ she continues. Presented in a gradient, each of these shirts symbolise a different year from the 1920s to the present.

‘Gradient of Centennial’ by Westley Wong and Frances Minji

 

Presented in a gradient, each of these LKM cotton shirts is dyed in 100 different colours and symbolise a different year from the 1920s to the present.

The eye-catching design is complemented by Westley Wong and Toby Crispy’s narrative-driven embroidery work ‘Slow Stitching of the Legacy’. Together, they formed ‘Centennial: Lee Kung Man’ to celebrate the 100th year of Lee Kung Man, a pioneering knitwear brand founded in 1923 by Mr. Fung Chau-yu. This presentation showcases the historical, cultural and social values of the century-old brand, while offering a fresh visual impact to the audience and avoiding clichés.

‘Slow Stitching of the Legacy’ by Westley Wong and Toby Crispy

‘Anamorphic Synthesis’, is the brainchild of designers Wai Tang, Noel Chu, Stephen Liang and Violet Foo. Inspired by peacock represents vision, beauty, pride, power and refinement, the installation was crafted from peacock feathers made with real ostrich feathers combined with ribbed polyester fabric, wedding dress fabric and mirror pieces, to form a multi-layered art piece resembling an inverted bouquet of wedding dresses.

 ‘Anamorphic Synthesis’, by Wai Tang, Noel Chu, Stephen Liang and Violet Foo

The meticulous combination creates a visually impactful experience, showcasing the collaboration between different disciplines. ‘We have to use computer parametric design to accurately create the component for fabrication,’ says the team, though with sophisticated tailoring background. The Peacock symbolizes Hong Kong's Textile Industry's metamorphosis from a manufacturing hub to a thriving design centre, demonstrating the city's evolution and embracing its role as a modern design hub.

As the design community continues to evolve and intersect, we invite you to explore a selection of intriguing products at DS Pop-up, located at The Barn on the 2/F of D2 Place TWO. Here, you can find a selection of over 10 local design brands, including Wholly Wholly's redesigned gift packages for Tak Cheng Tea Trading Co., Alize Lam’s Upcycling Self-assemble Kits, ARTO and MOODLABBYLORRAINE's patterned socks, to name a few.

Selected design products at The Barn DS Pop-up

Don’t miss out on the chance to visit Design Spectrum – The Full Gamut Exhibition until 19 July at East Wing, 2/F, 822 Lai Chi Kok Road to explore how fashion synergises with cross-disciplinary design.