Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Pradasphere II, unveiled at the Start Museum in Shanghai, meticulously traces Prada‘s evolution from 1913 to the present. This captivating exhibition, co-curated by Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, encapsulates over a century of the brand’s history, spanning fashion, art, architecture, culture, and more, showcased through 400+ physical and digital artifacts.
Patrizio Bertelli, Miuccia Prada, Raf Simons, and Lorenzo Bertelli. Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Expanding on the successful 2014 debut, this iteration delves deep into Prada’s transformative journey, spotlighting its impact on luxury, fashion, and beauty as an intellectual pursuit. Designed as a lush ‘magazzino’, the Italian word for warehouse, Pradasphere II, in collaboration with the New York City and Beijing-based studio 2×4, ingeniously blends industrial aesthetics with opulence. The exhibition reimagines Prada’s multilayered universe, emphasizing how fashion intersects with life’s various facets—history, art, sport, architecture, and sound.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
The main corridor features nearly 200 selected looks, both women’s and men’s, from the first collection to the current day, some of which have not been seen for over three decades. These looks have been carefully chosen by Raf Simons, super-fan from the outside turned insider and co-creator. Special rooms like Fratelli Prada, Prada A Milano, Gallery, Green Store, Cinema, Vitrine, Architecture, Materiality, Luna Rossa, Linea Rossa, Re-Nylon, Fondazione Prada, and Pradasphere Caffè serve as focal points to delve deeper into Prada’s multi-dimensional world.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
From re-created historical spaces to exclusive artworks by Damien Hirst, rare photographs by Albert Watson, and glimpses into iconic collaborations with Ridley Scott, Wes Anderson, and others, the exhibition showcases Prada’s profound artistic intersections beyond fashion. Highlighting craftsmanship, innovation, and sustainability, segments like Materiality, Re-Nylon, and Linea Rossa unveil Prada’s technical prowess and commitment to sustainable materials.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
The exhibition extends beyond visuals, integrating bespoke soundscapes by Plastikman (Richie Hawtin), guiding guests through an immersive sonic journey. Pradasphere II is not just a spectacle but an immersive encounter that divulges Prada’s essence through meticulous curation, offering diverse perspectives on its craftsmanship, aesthetic contradictions, and Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons’s ongoing pursuit of redefining luxury.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Located in the historic Nanpu Railway Station, renovated by Jean Nouvel, the Start Museum serves as a fitting backdrop for this unprecedented showcase of Prada’s legacy, marking its inaugural exhibition at the venue. Complementing the exhibition, a captivating book cataloging the magazzino’s contents will be released, featuring insights from Miuccia Prada, Patrizio Bertelli, Raf Simons, and an essay by Michael Rock.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
Pradasphere II welcomes the public to explore its enchanting world till January 21, 2024, offering a rare firsthand journey into Prada’s past, present, and future at the Start Museum in Shanghai’s Xuhui District.
Photo: Courtesy of Prada
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