Back to Basics — the Cross-Fertilisation of Design

HONG KONG -The exhibition Back to Basics—the Cross-Fertilisation of Design embraces China’s past and the re-invention of 5,000 years of traditional arts and crafts, such as cloisonné, woodwork and porcelain, for the twenty-first century and enriches the meaning of Design Art. Working with multidisciplinary artists and designers, the Gallery seeks to equalise art and design by challenging the Western hierarchy of art forms and introducing designers who work with narratives, rather than strictly “form follows function”.

The Gallery aims to redefine “industrial design” in the context of China’s rapidly evolving cultural environment. Pearl Lam Design questions the Western hierarchy of art over decorative art and design, as there is no such hierarchy in Chinese tradition. Since 500 BC, the literati philosophy has been to place equal importance on all three disciplines. While Western design has been evolving with technological advances, in China “hands” are more prevalent due to low labour costs. Chinese contemporary design should not be limited by Western perceptions of industrial design because works are handmade.