Hermès hong kong is alive with alex chinneck's kinetic 'living rooms'

alex chinneck transforms hermès hong kong

Hermès has transformed its Landmark Prince’s store in Hong Kong into a canvas for British artist and sculptor Alex Chinneck. The ever-shifting space is activated by Hermès with a new world-renowned artist invited as curator each season. This time, the spotlight is on Chinneck, whose signature blend of ingenuity and whimsy has brought to life a series of playful window displays titled Living Rooms.

The artist is known for his illusionistic, large-scale works. Whether he is melting, peeling, and unzipping building facades, turning structures upside-down, or tying solid objects in knots — Chinneck’s works bend reality, and most often exist in the public realm outside the context of the gallery. See designboom’s interview with the artist here!

British artist Alex Chinneck has created a magical world for Hermès in Hong Kong | images courtesy Alex Chinneck

ordinary objects are brought to life

Alex Chinneck’s Living Rooms installation for Hermès introduces a fantastical world where Hermès objects take on unexpected forms and behaviors. Six distinct scenes unfold across the Hong Kong Landmark Prince’s store, each a playful exploration of the Maison‘s iconic designs. The artist has harnessed and intertwined these familiar elements with kinetic sculptures to create a dynamic spectacle. One standout piece is a towering sculpture featuring a rocking horse, atop which is tenuously stacked an improbable cluster of objects, from books and clocks to an umbrella. This colossal work rises up across two levels of the store, while a smaller version occupies a low window display and gently rocks back and forth.

the Living Rooms installation transforms ordinary objects into extraordinary sculptures

art, architecture, theater, and engineering combine

Central to the Living Rooms intervention is a reimagined bookcase, which Alex Chinneck notes is inspired by a secret door at Hermès’ historic Parisian address, 24 Faubourg. Cut into the bookcase is a circular ‘door’ which revolves along a central axis. The kinetic and illusionistic display becomes a focal point and suggests a threshold, inviting viewers to enter into the world Chinneck has created. The artist’s work merges art, architecture, theater, and engineering, resulting in installations that are at once playful and mind-bending. By imbuing inanimate objects with a sense of life and movement, Chinneck encourages viewers to see the familiar in a fresh light. His work is a celebration of curiosity and an homage to the heritage of Hermès.

a portal is cut through a bookcase, referencing the historic Hermès address in Paris