Chanel Mobile Art debuts in Hong Kong!

Chanel Mobile Art may be the pinnacle of all fashion-funded contemporary art events. Not only have they created a show including twenty renowned artists, they have commissioned an entire pavilion – a major work of art in itself – designed by famed architect Zaha Hadid, to house the exhibition.

Referred to as a “contemporary art container,” the exterior was built in seven-foot wide segments so that the entire structure can be dismantled and moved.

Over the next two years, the pavilion will travel to six cities around the world (Tokyo, New York, London, Moscow and Paris). In a stroke of good fortune, Hong Kong was selected as the very first city to host the exhibition! Because of the high profile company and the extravagance of the event, Hong Kong can expect a unique assortment of international guests in town for the show.

Unlike Chanel fashion events, which are open to only a select few, Chanel Mobile Art is intended for the public and will be open daily from February 27th until April 5th.

To book a ticket, simply visit hkticketing.com and reserve your spot, or you can go directly to a booking counter at any of Hong Kong’s Tom Lee music stores. Tickets are available from 10 am until a half hour before the place closes either at 6 pm or 10 pm, depending on the day of the week. The tickets are free, but there is a $10 HKD processing charge per ticket.

The exhibition unfolds as a walking tour. Each guest is given an mp3 player that provides the soundtrack for the exhibition. Only a limited number of viewers can book a place at a given time. Once word gets out it may be difficult to book a spot, so I’d recommend booking a time slot as soon as possible. The location of Chanel Mobile Art is smack in the middle of Central. The structure has been assembled on top of the parking garage across from the former Star Ferry pier (next to City Hall).

The exact street address is 9 Edinburgh Place. It’s an easy walk from the Chanel store in Prince’s Building to the site. Simply cross the street and walk through the pedestrian tunnel to get to the exhibition.

There is an an extensive website created by Chanel explaining the works and Zaha Hadid’s structure. You can check it out here for more information.

The space itself becomes part of the exhibition as you wander through a world loosely inspired by the emblematic Chanel quilted handbag that debuted in 1955. A series of installations, films, and other audio and visual stimulations make up the Chanel-themed trip into contemporary art. Architect Zaha Hadid was personally recruited by Karl Lagerfeld to design the pavilion. From what I’ve seen, it’s worth a visit just to explore the futuristic space.

Have a must-see look at the rendering of the art container designed by Zaha Hadid below.

The exhibition opens February 27th and runs until April 5th, 2008

The Chanel Mobile Art address is: 9 Edinburgh Place, Central, Hong Kong Island

Exhibition hours:
Monday through Saturday (except Thursday): 10:00am to 6:00pm
Thursday: 10:00am to 10:00pm
Sundays: 12:00pm to 6:00pm