Central Landmark | 2nd 'Fashionable Patterns' - Embracing the Beauty of Chinese Culture, New Generation Designers Draw Inspiration from 'Grass Flower Head' to Construct a Surreal Botanical Garden

Description

 Following the enthusiastic response to the 'Fashionable Patterns' exhibition at DesignInspire 2025, the 2nd 'Fashionable Patterns' - Embracing the Beauty of Chinese Culture returns to Landmark from 3rd to 31st March 2026. As one of its featured exhibitions in March, the exhibition gathers surreal creations from multiple up-and-coming artists, infusing a blend of traditional and contemporary innovative artistic energy into the bustling city of Central.

The 'Fashionable Patterns' exhibition is hosted by Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) under the Vocational Training Council (VTC) and funded by the Creative Industries Development Agency (CCIDA). It aims to invite emerging designers to reinterpret traditional Chinese patterns and incorporate them into contemporary life. The 2nd exhibition, themed 'From Culture to Nature - A Surreal Garden of Plant Patterns', showcases the unique perspectives of several designers, taking the Chinese character radical 'Grass Flower Head' (艹/艸) as the core and extending to various creations for different scenarios, spanning across two-dimensional and three-dimensional, physical and digital realms.

Curated by Michael Leung, the exhibition not only invites 30 local design students and young designers from different fields to participate in the creative process but also brings together multiple local and international exhibitors. Participating designers include Chulan Kwak, Cynthia Mak,

Made by Sandwich, Karmuel Young and Tomy Ng, Moon.noon, STICKYLINE, and Leona Fung.

Highlight Exhibits: From Calligraphy Strokes to a Garden of Time

The exhibition features over 100 patterns created by local designers, all inspired by the Chinese character radical 'Grass Flower Head' (艹/艸). They blossom in a sea of patterns, originating from the same ancient and immortal starting point - '艹'.

Chulan Kwak's 'Grass Script Structure' series boldly transforms two-dimensional calligraphy art into three-dimensional entities. The works draw inspiration from the free-flowing brushstrokes of grass script and the structural form of the '艸' radical in small seal script. The designer cleverly preserves the distinction between '艸' and '木' in terms of form, designing them as low-slung chairs for sitting side by side, in contrast to vertically growing trees, thus constructing a sense of motion and tension as if one were writing calligraphy.

Cynthia Mak, starting from the Chinese character '茶' (tea), contemplates the idea of 'life is like tea, bitter before sweet'. She reflects on the flow of life between darkness and brightness, creating the lighting piece 'Tea Light'. The work is composed of layered three-dimensional geometric shapes, drawing inspiration from traditional Chinese lanterns. Through vivid colors and abstract geometric vocabulary, she transforms tradition into contemporary visual art. The hidden Chinese characters within the piece seem to remind viewers that after a bitter day, a warm light always awaits us at home.

Made by Sandwich presents 'A Garden of Time', delving into the philosophical relationship between the '艹' radical and time. The designer believes that many characters derived from '艹' (such as '茂', '蘇', '萎', and '荒') do not describe fixed forms but depict the states of plants as time passes. The work breaks the linear notion of time, juxtaposing different stages of growth, decline, and disappearance on the same canvas, constructing a garden composed of 'time slices' and presenting the multifaceted states of coexistence.

Inspired by the 'Grass Flower Head' symbol (艸/++), Karmuel Young and Tomy Ng collaborate on the multimedia work 'Tower', capturing 'a moment of growth' in a static yet tense installation. The work integrates art, fashion, and furniture, employing contemporary primal materials to interpret growth as a process of sprouting, layering, and transformation.

Karmuel draws on the essence of Suprematism and Constructivism to construct the base. The rigid geometric forms establish a solid foundation, while neutral colors highlight the material's texture, creating a precise, balanced, and restrained visual order.

Tomy extends upward with a luminous cellular structure, serving as both a light source and an organism. The floor lamp is conceived as a floating 'cell' - a translucent 3D resin-printed core enveloped by an inflatable and deflatable latex membrane, forming an outer membrane like a 'placenta'. Through inflation and deflation, the latex alternates between expansion and compression, causing the form to oscillate between exposure and enclosure. In contrast to the rigidity of the base, the fragility, permeability, and temporality are emphasized, presenting light as a life state shaped by pressure and time.

Immersive Experience: A Surreal Landscape Blending Virtual and Real

The exhibition also utilizes multimedia works and large-scale installations to lead viewers into a deep sensory experience.

Moon.noon's 'Vinescape' offers a multi-sensory immersive experience combining dynamic visuals, fragrances, and music. Drawing inspiration from the 'Grass Flower Head', which represents plants, the work creates flowing interactive patterns through abstract plant brushstrokes, reflecting the life cycle of the twenty-four solar terms and local flowers. The perfect fusion of visual, auditory, and olfactory elements allows viewers to transcend the boundaries of reality and digital, experiencing the blooming of spring, the hibernation of winter, and the ever-changing seasons and vitality of nature.

STICKYLINE's large-scale installation, 'Growing Geometric Variants', questions the boundaries between virtual and real. The lush geometric jungle is formed by infinitely stacking two simple paper art modules, with patterns resembling both leaf veins and digital barcodes. The work metaphorically suggests that as we let real nature fade away, we simultaneously nurture a virtual jungle that spirals out of control through likes and shares on social media. It leads viewers into this man-made landscape, prompting reflection on the increasingly blurred symbiotic relationship between humans and nature.

Contemporary Transformation of Traditional Crafts

Additionally, the exhibition specially showcases the works of artist Leona Fung. Her boutique porcelain series under the brand ByLeona blends the auspicious implications of traditional Chinese floral patterns with modern geometric aesthetics. Leona breaks free from the confines of ceramics as mere utilitarian objects, skillfully incorporating selected 'Fashionable Patterns' ambassador patterns into floor lamps, mirrors, candlesticks, and other mediums, reinterpreted through a unique and unified visual language. Embracing the core concept of 'patterns must have meaning, and meanings must bring good fortune', she seamlessly integrates cultural symbols into contemporary living spaces, showcasing the infinite possibilities of dialogue between traditional crafts and modern design.

This March, step into the symbolic world hidden within Chinese characters in the bustling city and immerse yourself in the myriad manifestations of this fantastical nature. Special Feature: Moroso x HKDI 'Designing Clothing for Furniture Objects' Project

Renowned Italian furniture brand Moroso collaborates with students from the Department of Architecture, Interior and Product Design at HKDI. They print the 'Fashionable Patterns' designs on fabrics and present the innovative exploration project 'Designing Clothing for Furniture Objects'. This creative practice treats furniture as a decorative three-dimensional body, transforming textiles and flexible components into flowing garments. The works not only emphasize aesthetics but also explore adaptability, sensory layers, and emotional expression, integrating circular design, modularity, and a service-oriented new business model. The students create interchangeable and upgradable 'furniture clothing' to cater to personal needs, lifestyle habits, climate, and various occasions. By merging creativity, functionality, and durability, the students propose a series of design solutions that deepen the relationship between humans and furniture, allowing the pieces to evolve over time and resonate across generations and diverse lifestyles.

Curator: Michael Leung

 
Born in Hong Kong, Michael obtained a master's degree in design from Design Academy Eindhoven in the Netherlands and founded Studio AA (formerly MIRO) locally. His projects span graphic, product, and spatial design. His works explore craftsmanship and industry, local culture, and sustainability, earning recognition through awards such as the Hong Kong Young Design Talent Award and Perspective's 40 Under 40 Awards. His creations have been showcased in Milan, Dutch Design Week, and other significant international exhibitions. In recent years, he has collaborated with institutions like the Vitra Design Museum in Germany and the V&A in the UK, extending his design reach into exhibition curation.
 

Exhibiting Units

Chulan Kwak

Korean designer Chulan Kwak is based in Seoul and creates across the realms of sculpture, furniture, and spatial design. With a professional background in craft and conceptual design, he holds a bachelor's degree in art from Hongik University and a master's degree from Design Academy Eindhoven. His work primarily explores the transformation of the dynamic energy of calligraphy into three-dimensional forms, allowing the shapes to extend as if freely brushed in the air.

Cynthia Mak

Cynthia Mak is an emerging artist and designer from Hong Kong, known for her unique compositional concepts and geometric arrangements that result in a distinct abstract style. Her work showcases not only a mastery of color and aesthetic judgment but also an expression of emotions, drawing viewers into her cheerful realm. Cynthia's passion for art led her to embark on this journey, and she dedicated herself fully to her creative pursuits during the 2021 pandemic. Her works have been exhibited at the Hong Kong Museum of Art, Ginza Six in Japan, and Abu Dhabi Art, and she has collaborated with renowned entities such as Hermès, Louis Vuitton, Shinjuku Isetan, and Landmark.

Made By Sandwich

Established in 2023, Made by Sandwich is a creative collective studio based in Shanghai. The brand responds to the ever-changing visual trends with keen insight and provides comprehensive services to its partners, including visual image design, packaging design, book design, three-dimensional creativity and motion design, and exhibition curation.

Karmuel Young

 Karmuel               Young is a Hong Kong menswear designer and the founder of the cross-media brand KARMUEL YOUNG. After graduating, he worked at Damir Doma's studio in ☎黎 and Ute Ploier's studio in Vienna, then returned to Hong Kong to take on creative roles at Lane Crawford and I.T, where he designed menswear. He launched his own brand in 2014, initially focusing on footwear and accessory design before introducing his first complete menswear collection in 2019. He has been recognized with awards such as Lane Crawford's 'Creative Call Out' and was named one of the '10 Asian Designers To Watch' in 2021. The brand continues to explore innovative tailoring, sustainability, and cross-disciplinary collaborations, constantly shaping the contemporary male wardrobe.
 

Tomy Ng

Tomy Ng is a London-based artist who primarily works with inflatable latex as his creative medium.

His work explores time and existence, translating abstract philosophical concepts into tangible sculptural forms. Through the cycle of inflation and deflation, his creations reveal that time is not a linear concept but a transformation of dimensions. His practice spans sculpture, spatial installations, and wearable objects, with recent exhibitions including Nascent with BAD at YoungSpace London, a performance collaboration with Untitlab at    ICA    London titled Symbiont, and the presentation of Tire 01 / Muscle 01 inflatable latex vests through   H.Lorenzo    and Karmuel YOUNG in Los Angeles.

Leona Fung

Leona Fung is the founder and artist behind Hong Kong aesthetic brand ByLeona. With a childhood love for Eastern and Western art and culture and a passion for travel, she embarked on a career in private banking after graduating from the University of Cambridge, UK, before choosing to start her own ceramic brand. Leona excels at translating Eastern cultural symbols through modern design, employing ceramics and homeware as mediums to narrate the 'Eastern Intent, Western Context' aesthetic. Her works have been exhibited at international platforms such as France's Maison&Objet and Fine Art Asia, and her creations can be found at the Hong Kong Palace Museum, Hong Kong Museum of Art, various art institutions, and high-end hotels and malls.

Moon.noon

Moon.noon (Kong Fan-leung) is a real-time visual artist who specializes in merging data storytelling, immersive audiovisuals, and sensory experiences. With a background in user experience design, he transforms climate data, urban landscapes, and audience interactions into compelling visual languages. His works have been featured at M+ Museum, the Hong Kong Chinese Orchestra, and the West Kowloon Freestyle Jazz Festival, and he has collaborated with brands such as Coca-Cola, LG, and Samsung, continuously pushing the boundaries of data storytelling through artistic sensibility and rational analysis.

STICKYLINE

STICKYLINE was founded in 2011 by Hong Kong creative designers Mic     Leong (Leong Man-kit) and Soilworm Lai (Lai Sai-lung), showcasing the beauty of creative engineering, mathematics, and geometry through large-scale polyhedral sculptures. Working primarily with paper and metal, they combine kinetics, sound, and lighting techniques to create minimalist, durable, and futuristic art installations, site-specific works, and private commissions, earning recognition in the design industry over the years.