Fendi bags local celebrities for tenth anniversary project

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Published: 12:00am, 7 Apr 2008

In addition to the luxury cachet, big brands also like connecting their name with anything in the oeuvre of art and culture. Chanel had its Mobile Art container, Louis Vuitton sponsors an Asian art prize, Prada just commissioned an animated short. The latest on the bandwagon of objet d'art exhibits is Fendi, which invited a bunch of local personalities - though hardly fine artists - to use one of its white canvas handbags as, well, a canvas.

A cocktail party was held last Wednesday to kick off the Fendi+10 Baguette display. The local 'artists' corralled for the item's 10th anniversary self-tribute include illustrators Carrie Chau Wun-ying, Alice Chan and Shrek The Third director Raman Hui Shing-ngai, plus a jewellery maker, a pop singer, a lyricist, a makeup man and other entertainment types. With minimal art pedigree, most of them simply drew pictures, patterns or characters on the bag. Others added elaborate textures. Designer Alan Chan Yau-kin's effort resembles a novelty gag (left). We're not sure there's any point or merit to these vanity objects. We're not even sure if they're even artistically interesting. However, you can see for yourself at Harbour City's Gallery By The Harbour until April 27. The fashion label is also inviting people to create their own baguette in a competition. For details go to www.fendi. com/10plus.