The Hong Kong Palace Museum (HKPM) is proud to present a spectacular new special exhibition “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” (“The Adorned Body”) to be on view from 26 June through 14 October 2024. Jointly organised by Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and the HKPM, this exhibition features over 300 stunning pieces of French costume, jewellery, and accessory from the late 18th to the early 20th centuries from the prestigious museum, home to France’s foremost national fashion collection, to illustrate the power of fashion to transform the body in France during that period of time. Almost all exhibits will be displayed in Asia for the first time, and some of them have never been seen outside of Paris or France.
First ever showcase of the most comprehensive historical French fashion collection in Asia
The Adorned Body is the Asian debut of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris’s most comprehensive collection of historical French fashion, with the HKPM being the first ever exhibition venue to showcase more than 300 exquisite pieces from it. As the largest survey of historical French fashion from 1770 to 1910 in Asia, the exhibition highlights the fascinating stories about fashion evolution in France and the dynamic interplay of cultures that has shaped fashion in France. In an effort to protect these precious and delicate exhibits, all objects will return to France after the three-and-half-month-long exhibition in the HKPM. The Adorned Body is one of the four major exhibitions in the West Kowloon Cultural District in 2024 that mark the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France.
Fascinating stories about fashion evolution in France and global fashion connections
In five thematic sections, The Adorned Body explores the history of men’s and women’s fashions in France from the 1770s to the 1910s. Based on the design concept of children dressing their dolls, the ensembles are curated to re-create how men and women in France dressed for various occasions. The exhibition begins with sumptuous 18th century court dresses, which French royals and aristocrats used to assert their social status. The massive bell-shaped crinoline dresses dominated the fashion scene in France and across Europe in the mid-19th century; it accentuated a woman’s small waist and hourglass-shaped silhouette, symbolising the pleasure and pain of beauty.
Other highlights of the exhibition include a luxurious dress by the father of haute couture, Charles Frederick Worth (1825–1895) featured in the fourth section. Worth dressed such prestigious clients as Empress Eugénie (1826–1920), the wife of Napoleon III and a trendsetter of fashion during that time. He was among the first to use live models to create the concept of “fashion shows”, and the first to sew branded labels into his clothing. His innovations still resonate through the fashion industry today.
This exhibition also sheds new light on the dynamic interplay of cultures that has shaped fashion in France. An 18th century indoor jacket worn by an aristocratic man featured in the first section tells important stories about the global network of trade and cultural exchanges between China and France: The jacket was made of French silk inspired by prized silk textiles created in China, which were admired as luxury items in France at the time.
Immersive exhibition design: “fashion in film”; and innovative learning programme
Many statement costume and jewellery pieces on display are illuminated by engaging excerpts from award-winning movies which show the occasions on which they were worn and thus bring historical attire to life. Innovative multimedia features will help visitors to dig deeper into the change of silhouette and exquisite details of elements that adorned the body. In the last part of the exhibition, we will invite visitors to explore in an intimate and interactive manner the evolution of French fashion in a dressing room-like environment where they can virtually “try on” clothing, accessory, and jewellery pieces. Other educational offerings include fashion-themed workshops and lectures.
Dr Louis Ng, Museum Director of the HKPM, says, “The HKPM is thrilled to be the first venue in Asia to showcase the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris’s collection on such an impressive scale. Through the engaging stories behind these exquisite exhibits, we hope to instil visitors’ interest in the history of French fashion, as well as the evolution of fashion across time and its impact on global fashion, textile, and design. The exhibition testifies to the HKPM’s mission to facilitate cross-disciplinary collaboration and encourage dialogue between China and the rest of the world in arts and culture.”
Christine Macel, Director of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, says, “As the first partnership between the Hong Kong Palace Museum and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, this exhibition, conceived by Denis Bruna and Mathieu Rousset-Perrier, curators at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, in collaboration with Dr Ingrid Yeung, Associate Curator at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, is an opportunity to present to the Hong Kong public for the first time an exceptional collection of costumes, accessories and jewellery, flagships of our collection, and to celebrate together the links that have united China and France for 60 years.”
The Adorned Body is curated by its lead curators Mr Denis Bruna, Head Curator, Fashion and Textiles Department, pre-1800 collections, and Mr Mathieu Rousset-Perrier, Heritage Curator, Middle Ages, Renaissance, Jewellery collections, both responsible for the concept and content of the exhibition, working closely in collaboration with the Dr Ingrid Yeung, Associate Curator of the HKPM. Special thanks to Sylvie Corréard, CEO of Les Arts Décoratifs; Christine Macel, Director of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris and Yvon Figueras, Director of International Development and Production of Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris. The exhibition is supported by Cathay as Travel Partner and Hong Kong-based non-profit organisation Foundation for Art and Culture as Exhibition Facilitator.
The exhibition will open in Gallery 9 of the HKPM on 26 June and run until 14 October 2024. Tickets for this special exhibition, which also grant access to all the thematic exhibitions in Galleries featuring treasures from the Palace Museum and other collections, are HK$150 for adults and HK$75 for concessions* and are available for sale through the West Kowloon Cultural District’s online ticketing platforms and ticketing partners.
A special combo ticket, priced at HK$220 for adults and HK$110 for visitors eligible for concession*, will be available to visitors who wish to visit both special exhibitions──“The Hong Kong Jockey Club Series: YUAN MING YUAN──Art and Culture of an Imperial Garden- Palace” in Gallery 8 and “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770–1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” in Gallery 9 on the same day, in addition to all thematic exhibitions in other galleries of the HKPM. Please refer to the HKPM website for more information.
*Concessions are available to children aged 7 to 11, full-time students, seniors aged 60 and above, persons with disabilities (with one companion), and CSSA recipients.
Remarks
About the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris
Founded in 1864, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris houses one of the world’s largest and most important collections of design and decorative arts and is home to France’s foremost national fashion collection. A source of inspiration for artists and craftspeople, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, tells the story of practical arts in conjunction with fine and industrial arts. The collection of Western decorative arts—including art objects, designs, jewellery, toys, advertisements, and graphic designs—has been built up since the 19th century and now contains more than 1,000,000 works. The museum has an extensive collection of fashion and textiles, the world's largest collection of wallpaper and art deco and art nouveau treasures, and the oldest French collection of non-Western art. The permanent exhibition features 6,000 works spanning styles from the Middle Ages to the present, offering an enlightened perspective on art history and contemporary creations.
About the Hong Kong Palace Museum
The Hong Kong Palace Museum aspires to be a leading cultural institution committed to the study and appreciation of Chinese art and culture while advancing dialogue among world civilisations. The Hong Kong Palace Museum is a collaborative project between the West Kowloon Cultural District Authority and the Palace Museum. The Hong Kong Jockey Club Charities Trust made a donation of HK$3.5 billion for its establishment, as well as some of the annual exhibitions and education programmes in 2023–2031.
Embracing new curatorial approaches, the Museum offers a Hong Kong perspective and a global vision, presenting the finest objects from the Palace Museum and other important cultural institutions around the world. Through research, exhibitions, and educational and professional exchange programmes, the Museum will build international partnerships and help position Hong Kong as a global hub for art and culture. At heart a resource that belongs to the community of Hong Kong, the Museum will inspire community engagement, foster dialogue, and promote creativity and interdisciplinary collaboration.
About the West Kowloon Cultural District
The West Kowloon Cultural District is one of the largest and most ambitious cultural projects in the world. Its vision is to create a vibrant new cultural quarter for Hong Kong on 40 hectares of reclaimed land located alongside Victoria Harbour. With a varied mix of theatres, performance spaces, and museums, the West Kowloon Cultural District will produce and host world-class exhibitions, performances, and cultural events, providing 23 hectares of public open space, including a two-kilometre waterfront promenade.
https://www.westkowloon.hk/
