In late August, 2016, high fashion label Hermès revealed the results of their collaboration with Korean artist Gwon Osang in a special unveiling at their flagship Sydney store.
The installation, entitled The Art of the Image_New Sculpture, blends Gwon’s iconic deodorant art with the distinctive Hermès style, tying in with the brand’s 2016 theme of ‘Nature at Full Gallop’ by pairing animals with the figure of renowned Korean model S. J. Park. One features Park with a falcon perching on his arm, while another (perhaps the most striking sculpture of all) depicts him with an albino tiger draped over his shoulders. Other highlights including a striking version of the Bolide 45 Shark bag, and a sculpture of Hermès most definitive and exclusive offering: the Birkin bag.
We spoke with Gwon prior to the unveiling about how the collaboration came about, the eight month process of putting the installation together, and why he believes Hermès “represents the greatest artwork in the modern era“.