Shang'hai on Prada

I was fortunate enough to be able to see the Prada exhibition at the Peace Hotel when I was in Shanghai. Named “Miuccia Prada: Art and Creativity”, it showcased the concepts, techniques and the craftsmanship of Prada skirts dating back to the late 80s. The exhibition was curated by AMO- the research arm of OMA. As something you might expect from AMO-OMA, the presentation was very interesting. Giant cut outs of the skirts lined the lobby of the hotel while the main exhibition was in 3 suites on the 7^th floor. In the main exhibition, skirts were set to spin on mechanized hangers and others were worn over swinging weights which mimics the form of the skirt while someone was walking in the skirt. The forms of the skirts are also explored by displaying them in a flat vacuum packs and creating sculptures by setting skirts in stiff metal frames. Magnifying lenses were also provided to allow the viewer to observe intricate details on the skirts. It was announced during the press release of the exhibition that Prada will be building an epicenter store in Shanghai in the next few years. It will no doubt be an extraordinary store in contrast to the mostly bland architecture of the city. But I hope that somebody else other than OMA designs it.

The emphasis placed by Prada on Shanghai solidifies the role of Shanghai as a new centre of consumption in the world. Indeed rapid development and the rise of new-money have boosted the consumption power of its people and pushed it into the echelons of a major global city. A conversation I had with my friend, Ryan, brought up the comparison of Shanghai with Berlin in terms of the amount of urban development and construction going on currently. However, I feel that the two cities, other than experiencing high speeds of development, are taking very different approaches to growth. Berlin is desperately trying to revive its glorious days before the World Wars and the Cold War, as a centre for commerce and culture, through strict and careful urban planning and retention of the pre-war urban fabric. There is a great emphasis on building the character of the city. On the other hand, Shanghai seems to focus more on economic and material growth and risks losing its distinctive character.

Ryan also commented (which I slightly paraphrased) that Berlin is moving towards the future while looking at the past but Shanghai is just about the future. It does echo what I felt about Shanghai. The whole vibe that I got in Shanghai was a compulsion to participate in an almost vulgar pursuit for money. From the persistent street vendors hawking knock off Vuittons to the revoltingly opulent new modern buildings that are sprinkled around the city. Everything seems to be about money and status.

Perhaps I should not fault Shanghai for being materialistic but see it as a phase that it is going through before its rise as a truely great city.