Pace Gallery to Exhibit "Journey of a Dress" in Beijing

Belgian-American designer Diane von Furstenberg [Photo/onlylady.com]

The exhibit "Diane von Furstenberg: Journey of a Dress" will be held at Beijing's Pace Gallery in the 798 Art Zone from April 3 through May 14.

Von Furstenberg will be present for the exhibition preview on April 2.

The exhibition will present portraits of the Belgian-American designer by some of the most celebrated artists of the past four decades along with a retrospective of DVF fashion spanning the last 40 years.

Among the portraits will also be new works by major contemporary Chinese artists, including conceptual artist Zhang Huan, photographer Hai Bo, painter Li Songsong, and multimedia artist Zhou Yi.

"Journey of a Dress" tells the story of von Furstenberg's remarkable life, career and fashion designs. It begins with the original DVF wrap dress from 1973, a piece of clothing so revolutionary that it landed the 29 year-old designer on the cover of "Newsweek." The exhibit will include more than 60 vintage and contemporary dresses from the designer's personal archives along with letters, photographs and ephemera that evoke specific moments in von Furstenberg's history.

"China is the cradle of our civilization and has always inspired me tremendously," von Furstenberg was quoted as saying by the Pace Gallery,"I first visited in the 1980s, and subsequent trips left a great impression on me. It is an honor to now engage with the country's art community. China is a major part of our future, and its art is already some of the most exciting being made worldwide. I am delighted to be a part of this exhibition at Pace Beijing."

The Pace Gallery in Beijing was the first major American art gallery to open in the Chinese capital and is among the largest privately owned galleries in the world.