Dior pulls photo in China show criticised for ‘smearing Asian women’ by portraying a woman with ‘spooky eyes’ and a ‘gloomy face’
- A photo that was part of a Lady Dior exhibition at a Shanghai art centre was taken down after drawing attacks online and from newspaper Beijing Daily
- Most commentators said it perpetuated a stereotype of Asian women, though some praised the use of a model with darker skin
French luxury brand Dior has come under fire in China after showing a photo that was “smearing Asian women”, according to state media.
The photograph, which was part of the Lady Dior exhibition held at the West Bund Art Centre in Shanghai, shows an Asian woman dressed in a traditional costume and holding a Lady Dior bag. State-owned newspaper Beijing Daily slammed the photo with the headline: “Is This the Asian Woman in Dior’s Eyes?”
China Women’s News, a newspaper run by the semi-government body All-China Women’s Federation, said in an editorial on Wednesday that both Dior and the photographer’s aesthetic tastes have “gone too far”.
“Their behaviour has indicated their intention of uglifying Chinese women and distorting Chinese culture,” said the newspaper.
“Again, from this Dior’s ghost-style picture, which makes the public feel uncomfortable, it’s easy to see some Western brands’ ‘pride and prejudice’ in their aesthetics and culture,” said the newspaper.