26 May, 2025

From May 22 to August 14, 2025, Maison Hermès in Shanghai unveils its summer-themed window display Wuyou Garden, conceived by Gallery-represented artist Zeng Jiayong. Running concurrently with a namesake exhibition until June 5, this project transforms the store’s façade and interior into a poetic landscape, merging traditional Chinese aesthetics with contemporary creativity.

Based in Beijing, Zeng Jiayong is widely recognized for his contributions to contemporary ink art. His multidisciplinary practice spans painting, sculpture, and installation, reinterpreting classical Chinese landscape traditions through a modern lens. In Wuyou Garden, Zeng employs his signature technique of reverse painting on paper, allowing pigment to diffuse through the fibers and conjure misty, dreamlike atmospheres. Through layered compositions, he challenges spatial perception and invites the viewer into a realm where memory, mythology, and nature meet.

The window displays are thematically arranged:

• Men’s Universe: Inspired by traditional handscroll landscapes, this display features pine trees, moon gates, Taihu rocks, and dynamic egrets that add movement and life to the serene setting.

• Women’s Universe: A mysterious female figure, a deer, and blooming flowers surround a tranquil pond, creating a whimsical and poetic tableau.

• Accessories Window: Using sculptural forms made from painted paper pulp, this section mimics stone formations. Hermès accessories are subtly woven into the scene, guiding the viewer deeper into the artist’s imagined world.

Curated by Tang Zehui, the fourth-floor exhibition further expands on the Wuyou Garden theme, offering an immersive environment that blurs the lines between nature and art. Through this collaboration, Hermès continues its commitment to artistic dialogue, craftsmanship, and cross-cultural exchange.