SINGAPORE, Oct 26 — Originally launched in Shanghai in 2010 — with subsequent stops in cities such as London, Rome, Hong Kong and Tokyo — Hermes’ travelling exhibition Leather Forever, which showcases the brand’s love for leather, finally opened its doors here yesterday at the ArtScience Museum, in conjunction with the SG50 celebrations.
To top it off, Singapore is the first city outside Paris to preview artefacts from the private collection of Emile Hermes in an accompanying pop-up exhibition outside the Asian Civilisations Museum. Titled Little Room of Wanders, it is a treasure trove of more 100 objects from the invitation-only private museum of Emile Hermes (the grandson of its founder Thierry Hermes).
A Hermes spokesperson said that when the brand conceptualised Little Room Of Wanders, it was inspired by the idea of a container or parcel delivered off the boat from Paris — filled with a flaneur’s collection of beautiful, captivating things.
“It seemed to make perfect sense, therefore, that this container of treasures might find itself at the Asian Civilisations Museum lawn by the mouth of the Singapore River, where travellers from ages past first arrived in Singapore,” she added.
Both exhibitions will run for 50 days till December 13. We got a sneak peek at both exhibitions last Friday and uncovered what’s so amazing about them.
The treasures at the Little Room of Wanders
Here, you’ll be among the lucky few to see some of the heirlooms that VVIPs such as the Emperor and Empress of Japan, Hollywood legend Audrey Hepburn and pop art icon Andy Warhol saw at the museum located above the Hermes flagship store on Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honore in Paris. Among the priceless highlights here — curated to reflect the theme of travel and Hermes’ heritage — are a Chinese saddle from the Qing Dynasty; a walking stick that opens up to be a parasol made of pheasant feathers; and a pair of beaded shoes worn by dandies such as Oscar Wilde in the late 18th and early 19th century.
The sheer interactivity of leather forever
As for the Leather Forever exhibition, visitors get to experience first-hand what makes Hermes so covetable — from encountering an array of different leathers when you first enter the Savoir Fair “skin library” to the digital installation that reveals the patterns to be cut for different bags. You’re even allowed to touch these skins and watch Hermes craftsmen in action. What’s also fun is The Horse, The First Client exhibit, where you can giddy-up atop a mechanical horse and “race” a fellow rider.
The mother of all Kellys
Bag lovers will drool at the Variations On Kelly And Birkin exhibit. Here, the brand’s legendary bags are presented in a giant Kelly bag sculpture. Yes, as its name suggests, the Kellys and Birkins come in a dizzying variety of sizes, colours and materials. Try tearing yourself away from them.
The five-star bags
Just like how Hermes specially created unique Star Bags as part of its exhibit in London, Tokyo and Hong Kong, Singapore gets five of them too — one to represent each decade of Singapore’s independence. These bags, dressed in crocodile, ostrich and lizard skins, were inspired by the Kelly Doll and bear playful details that resemble a smile, nose and eyes, and are aptly displayed in a garden-like setting – not unlike our verdant island. — TODAY
