SPACE December 2024 (No. 685)
Exhibition views of Brides de Galaxy
On Oct. 10, Walkerhill Theater – Théâtre des Lumières – was reborn as a mysterious alien planet. Hermès’ Brides de Galaxy opened up into a celestrial celebration of silk in Walkerhill Theater, Seoul. Brides de Galaxy is a venue to celebrate Hermès’ distinct silk heritage with a 90-year history. Hermès house, established in 1837, introduced the first silk twill scarf ‘Jeu des omnibus et dames blanches’ in 1937. For Hermès, the Brides de Gala carré not only marked the beginning of a timeless creation but is also a symbol of self-expression. To be more specific, the square silk scarf, which can be worn in a variety of ways, allows tremendous creative freedom. With this silky item, Brides de Galaxy residents are able to demonstrate their own uniqueness, creativity and personality. The planet, which conjures a desert landscape covered by trippy sand dunes, was inspired by the design of Hermès’ Brides de Gala. Hermès’ most iconic design, Brides de Gala was born of a collaboration with designer Hugo Grygkar in 1957. His design features saddler and harness components as design elements as a way to pay tribute to house’s equestrian heritage. Over the next half-century, the most beloved print has continuously been reinvented through contemporary interpretations. By walking through the ‘Silky Way’ exhibiting various scarf prints, a new planet slowly emerges. The new planet consists of six immersive areas inspired by various facets of the Hermès carré, Brides de Gala. Guests can dance along the galactic performance stage with a grand staircase, called ‘Tartan’. ‘Dune Bar’ is a unique space for refreshment with spinning ‘Brides de Gala’ patterned parachutes overhead. ‘Love Garden’ is filled by twilly trees decorated with the scarves in ‘Love’ design. A special performance, in its clever use of light and shadow, was presented in the glass cube space, ‘En Desordre’. Meanwhile, ‘Valley’ offered an opportunity for guests to try on the various silks for themselves. The central space of the planet was taken over by a dancefloor named ‘Shadow’ complete with a glimmering disco ball sky. Apart from those six areas, other multifarious performances also took place in the awe-inspiring journey and guest at Brides de Galaxy enjoyed the festival into the late evening.
