Creative sparks fly at SaloneSatellite design exhibition
Salone del Mobile Milano celebrates the 25th Anniversary of SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection with the debut exhibition in Hong Kong’s West Kowloon Cultural District this November.
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As Hong Kong continues to position itself as a vibrant hub for design and culture, the city is now hosting the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024, an exceptional exhibition celebrating the evolution of design over the past 25 years.
“The collaboration with global design leader Salone del Mobile in bringing this milestone exhibition to Hong Kong is incredibly exciting. I greatly appreciate the support from the Hong Kong Culture, Sports and Tourism Bureau (CSTB), which will certainly help put Hong Kong on the map as a major design hub in Asia,” said Winnie Yue, founder of the Designworks Foundation.
Running from November 11 to 21 at the Arts Pavilion in West Kowloon Cultural District, this unique event offers both international and local audiences an opportunity to witness some of the most cutting-edge designs from around the world.
Over the years, more than 14,000 designers have passed through its doors, and many of their designs have become emblematic of contemporary design trends. The Permanent Collection, established in 2018, now holds over 300 pieces, many of which have made it into the catalogues of prestigious design companies around the globe.
The SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 exhibition features 104 selected works, mapping out the evolution of design from the turn of the 21st century to the present day. These pieces not only represent the aesthetics of contemporary design but also reflect the changing societal and environmental concerns of their creators.
"The exhibition profiles the new generations to whom the baton of the 20th century ‘masters’ has been passed down, now entrusted with the key task of leading society to envision a different future," said Marva Griffin Wilshire, the founder and curator of SaloneSatellite.
"Their creations mark out the trajectory of the evolution of contemporary design, as well as their aesthetic and projectual contribution to the history of design."
The exhibition’s debut in Hong Kong marks a significant moment of collaboration and creativity between Milan and Hong Kong, bridging two design capitals and forging lasting connections between international and local talent.
Local talent celebrated at the Hong Kong Design Annex
As a prelude to the Salone landmark event, the Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition, conceptualised by Hong Kong award-winning duo Lim + Lu, concluded its successful run from November 1 to 7 at the Arts Pavilion in West Kowloon Cultural District. It showcased visionary Hong Kong-based talents in furniture and lighting design.
The exhibition featured a diverse array of products, from ceramic vases to large-scale furniture pieces, all housed within a pavilion designed by Lim + Lu. The pavilion, constructed using bamboo, reflects Hong Kong’s traditional use of bamboo scaffolding and underscores the event’s emphasis on sustainability.
Bamboo, Lu noted, is iconic to Hong Kong and carries deep cultural significance. “The whole pavilion will be made of bamboo to kind of tie in this Hong Kong heritage,” she said, stressing the importance of incorporating elements of the city’s history into the exhibition’s design.
Designed by Lim + Lu, the bamboo pavilion fused tradition and innovation, showcasing Hong Kong’s heritage while placing sustainability at the heart of the Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition.
The Hong Kong Design Annex exhibition was a deliberate effort to ensure that Hong Kong’s design voices were represented alongside their international counterparts.
Elevating Hong Kong’s design scene
For Winnie Yue, the founder of Designworks Foundation and organiser of both the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 and the Hong Kong Design Annex, these two exhibitions represent a major step forward in showcasing the city’s design prowess to the world.
“There are many parallels between both exhibitions, even though one operates on an international scale while the other is 100% homegrown,” Yue explained.
"With such a wealth of talent in Hong Kong, we’re immensely proud to showcase what our city brings to the global stage. The West Kowloon Cultural District reflects the government’s dedication to nurturing Hong Kong’s cultural growth, and the Arts Pavilion - an architectural gem - offers an ideal setting for visitors to experience both the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 and the Hong Kong Design Annex exhibitions."
Yue’s involvement in the design world spans almost three decades, and her passion for elevating Hong Kong’s design profile is clearly evident.
A platform for discussion and inspiration
In addition to the exhibitions, the SaloneSatellite and Hong Kong Design Annex events featured a series of talks and panel discussions aimed at deepening the public’s engagement with design.
The Designer Dialogue Series 4, held on November 1 and 2, brought together renowned industry figures, including some of the exhibition’s designers, to discuss key issues in contemporary design. These talks, moderated by journalists, fostered a more interactive and inclusive dialogue about the future of design in Hong Kong and beyond.
As Lu explained: “We wanted to have this discussion format as opposed to just a presentation, where it’s very one-sided. We really want the audience to be engaged in the discussions.”
The SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection 1998-2024 and Hong Kong Design Annex exhibitions not only celebrate 25 years of global design innovation but also shine a spotlight on the rich design talent in Hong Kong.
Admission to the SaloneSatellite Permanent Collection exhibition is free, running from November 11 to 21, 2024, at the Arts Pavilion in West Kowloon Cultural District.