Glazed Splendor: Guo Pei and Master Tan

Organised in partnership with UBS

Art Basel Hong Kong 2025, March 27

Guo Pei (left); Tan Guanghui (right)
Guo Pei (left); Tan Guanghui (right)

Guo Pei, Fashion Designer
Tan Guanghui
, National-level Inheritor of Intangible Cultural Heritage of Guangcai
Moderator: Charlene Mo, Founding Board Member, K11 Craft & Guild Foundation

Guo Pei was the first couturier and is the most acclaimed couture artist in China. Over the past 30 years of a career dedicated to fashion and couture designs, Guo Pei has always adhered to the design philosophy of 'Eastern learning as root, and Western learning as applications'. Guo Pei's couture works have been known for their uniqueness in integrating harmoniously modern couture with ancient Chinese traditions through first-rate embroidery techniques, avant-garde silhouette design, and unique creativities, lifting the artistic quality of couture to the next level. She has collaborated with top museums and galleries around the world, such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York, the Musée des Arts décoratifs in Paris, the SCAD FASH Museum of Fashion in Atlanta, the Asian Civilisations Museum in Singapore, the Victoria and Albert Museum in London, the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco, the Auckland Art Gallery and the Musée du Quai Branly - Jacques Chirac to showcase the charm of Chinese culture through her artistic creations.

Tan Guanghui graduated from the Guangzhou Academy of Fine Arts in the 1980s. His craftsmanship has earned him the title of representative successor to the National Intangible Cultural Heritage project. His work to safeguard the country's Intangible Cultural Heritage has been recognised by the Chinese government. He is an expert enjoying the State Council Special Allowance. He has been referred to as craft master, cultural successor and top expert in China. He began making guangcai items in the 1970s. His creations, which blend traditional Canton porcelain craft and Chinese painting theory, are filled with details, rich colours and resplendent ornamentation. Figures, flowers and birds have been his favourite subjects. The master is known as "Guangcai Rooster King", because he is proficient in portraying a variety of cocks on the move. Some of his creations are kept in the National Arts and Crafts Museum, Guangdong Museum, Guangdong Folk Art Museum and Guangzhou National Archives.

With over a decade of expertise, Charlene Mo is the Board Member of K11 Craft & Guild Foundation overseeing this registered charity for conserving and rejuvenating art & culture and savoir-faire. Additionally, Charlene is a successful professional in her role for architectural design and management at K11. She has played a pivotal role in shaping iconic landmarks such as K11 MUSEA, K11 Guangzhou, CTF Finance Tower. Her expertise spans from inception to completion, consistently delivering commercial developments that blend functionality with artistic innovation and cultural content.

This talk is organised in partnership with UBS. It will be conducted in English, with simultaneous interpretation available in Cantonese and Mandarin. All talks will be recorded and available on YouTube and on the Art Basel website after the fair.

The Art Basel Hong Kong 2025 Conversations program is curated by Stephanie Bailey.

Conversations are free and open to all; no Art Basel ticket is needed to enter. To secure your place for this Conversation, please RSVP here to receive your digital ticket. Visitors without tickets will be welcomed on a first come first served basis.

Venue: Auditorium, N101B, Level 1, Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre.

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