Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture presents a dialogue between historical and contemporary Chinese design, juxtaposing embroidered masterworks by China’s foremost couturière with Chinese artworks from the Asian Civilisations Museum. Guo Pei’s dramatic, sculptural gowns reflect influences from growing up in Beijing surrounded by Chinese imperial art and mythology. Her creations express her personal take on contemporary fashion and aesthetics. Exploring her impact on everyday lives beyond the runway, the exhibition presents several of Guo Pei’s intricate Chinese bridal gowns – including two directly inspired by artworks in the ACM collection. Serving as points of encounter and departure, the ACM objects invite contemplation on how Guo Pei references and reimagines Chinese art and tradition for China and the world today.

Curator Tours

[Fully Subscribed]

Wednesdays, 26 June, 31 July, 28 August
7.30 to 8.30pm
Asian Civilisations Museum
$40 per person

Exhibition Curator Jackie Yoong brings visitors through the spectacular world of historical and contemporary Chinese design, juxtaposing embroidered masterworks by Guo Pei, China’s foremost couturière, with Chinese artworks from the Asian Civilisations Museum.

Guo Pei’s dramatic, sculptural gowns reflect influences from growing up in Beijing surrounded by Chinese imperial art and mythology. Her designs reflect her Beijing childhood, overseas experiences, and ideas about art. Exploring her impact on everyday lives beyond the runway, the exhibition presents several of Guo Pei’s intricate Chinese bridal gowns – including two directly inspired by artworks in the ACM collection.

This special tour happens after-hours, when the museum is closed to the public. Entry is solely for registered participants, and tour fees cover access to all galleries.

About the Curator
Curator, Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum

Jackie Yoong is curator of Asian fashion and textiles and Peranakan art at the Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum. She was in the curatorial teams of the traveling exhibitions on Peranakan art to the Musee du Quai Branly, Paris (2010) and the National Museum of Korea, Seoul (2013). In Singapore, she worked on the exhibitions Great Peranakans (2015), Sarong Kebaya (2011) and Nyonya Needlework (2016). In 2019, she curated the special exhibition Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture, and is curating the upcoming permanent gallery on Asian fashion and textiles. Jackie graduated with a M.A. in History of Art from the School of Oriental and African Studies (SOAS), London; on the SOAS-Alphawood scholarship.

Guided Tours

Free guided tours are conducted by our museum docents and volunteers, and last about an hour.

Asian Culture & Music Series: A Night at the Chinese Opera

Friday, 28 June, 6 to 9pm
Saturday, 29 June, 1 to 9pm
Asian Civilisations Museum
Free admission to programmes, 50% discounted entry into Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture

Spend a night at the Chinese Opera with us, and dive deep into the theatrics and spectacle of this cultural treasure! For two nights only, the museum plays host to a kaleidoscopic showcase across song and dance, live music, martial arts, film, colourful costumes, and more. Go backstage with a pioneering opera troupe, or be transformed into a Chinese Opera superstar through workshops, elaborate costumes, and the iconic stage make-up.

From traditional performances to modern renditions, be swept away by the dynamic colours, music, and theatre of the Chinese Opera!

Saturdays@ACM: Wear Art Thou?

Saturday, 29 June
1 to 5pm
Asian Civilisations Museum
Free admission to programmes, 50% off ticket to Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Culture

Let your imagination run wild as dragons and phoenixes come to live in this immersive drama performance. Then try to spot them hidden in the galleries, as you visit ACM’s new special exhibition, Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture. Then make your own dragon and phoenix plushies to take home!

ACM Symposium: Curating Fashion and Textiles

[Fully Subscribed]

In preparation for a permanent gallery of Asian fashion and textiles at the museum, the Asian Civilisations Museum brings together directors and curators of leading fashion and textiles museums to share and discuss curatorial approaches. ACM hopes to tell relevant and engaging stories about the rotating displays in this new gallery. The most popular narratives worldwide concern national styles and individual designer creativity. But in recent years, some museums have also presented displays highlighting cross-cultural influences in fashion and textiles, past to present. Alternative possibilities beyond the national framework are growing, inviting thoughts on what may constitute “global fashion” today.

Programme
Monday, 8 July 2019

6.15pm
Registration

6.45pm
Welcome by Kennie Ting, Director of Asian Civilisations Museum and Peranakan Museum

7pm
Keynote lecture by Valerie Steele, Director and Chief Curator, The Museum at FIT, New York
On curating “Global Fashion”

8pm
End of programme

Tuesday, 9 July 2019

2pm
Panel on Asia (30 mins each)

Akiko Fukai, Director and Curator Emeritus, The Kyoto Costume Institute, Kyoto
Exchange in aesthetics between Japan and the West: Through kimono and fashion

Shine Xu, Curator, China National Silk Museum, Hangzhou
China National Silk Museum: From archaeological to contemporary

Mai Piyavara Teekara Natenoi, Director, Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles, Bangkok
Royal and global connections: Presenting fashion and textiles at Queen Sirikit Museum of Textiles

Jackie Yoong, Curator, Asian Fashion and Textiles, Asian Civilisations Museum
Towards a permanent gallery of Asian fashion and textiles at the Asian Civilisations Museum

Roundtable discussion

4.30pm
Tea break

5pm
Panel on Europe (30 min each)

Miren Arzalluz, Director, Palais Galliera, Paris
Collecting, exhibiting: A history of fashion at Palais Galliera

Marie-Sophie Carron de la Carrière, Chief Curator for Modern and Contemporary Fashion, Musee des Arts Decoratifs, Paris
Fashion and textile collection at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs

Circe Henestrosa, Head, School of Fashion, LASALLE College of the Arts, Singapore; Co-Curator of Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up (2018) at the Victoria and Albert Museum, London
Curating Frida

Roundtable discussion

7pm
End of programme

Drop It Like It's Haute:

Style it up at Chinese Art & Couture Weekend Festival

Friday, 26 July, 6 to 10pm
Saturday, 27 July, 12pm to 10pm
Free Admission to programmes; only $6 intoGuo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture.

Strut your way into the museum for a stylish weekend of Instagram-worthy moments, fashion brands, creative workshops, hands-on activities, special film screenings, and get close to fashion industry experts and dazzling intricate designs. Be inspired by the world of maximalist fashion, and bring home a little fantasy and magic – for one weekend only!

Find out more about this programme

Saturdays@ACM: Too Haute to Handle

Saturday, 27 July
1 to 5pm
Asian Civilisations Museum
Free admission to programmes; only $6 into Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture.

Immerse yourself in high fashion inspired by the rich cultures of Asia. Create your own fashion accessory, and learn about the exchange of fabrics between Asia and the world in the interactive drama performance. While here, visit the special exhibition Guo Pei: Chinese Art and Couture to view one-of-a-kind outfits.