HONG KONG SAR – Stuck at home this Christmas and yearning to visit museums and art galleries in other countries? How about seeing some of the world’s most famous paintings with Sanrio characters at “MOSTown x Sanrio characters Christmas Galleria”?
Teaming up with Sanrio, who is celebrating its 60th anniversary this year, MOSTown has invited Taiwanese creative team Seven Apex on a ground-breaking collaboration – the official Asian distributor of images managed by France’s Réunion des Musées Nationaux (RMN) to select artworks from some of the most celebrated artists in history and reimagine them through kawaii Sanrio characters. The end result is an art exhibition that is first-of-its-kind anywhere in the world, where iconic Sanrio characters are making surprise appearances in 19 art pieces from the RMN’s collections to create an educational, Instagrammable, and above all, smile-inducing experience suitable for everyone.
This winter, MOSTown will be the destination of choice for art lovers and Sanrio fans alike. From 20 November 2020 to 17 January 2021, the mall’s atrium will transform into a magnificent art gallery housing 5 exhibition zones: “Starry sky over the Rhone”, featuring an immersive experience, “Vincent Van Gogh Rest from Work”, “Claude Monet”, “Impressionism” and “The Grand Gallery”. Throughout the exhibition, A-list Sanrio characters including Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, My Melody, Cinnamoroll, Pompompurin, gudetama and Kuromi are spotted in 18 life-size paintings and an artefact, while sculptures of Sanrio characters will greet visitors along their tour, and art aficionados can explore the classicsin the silhouettes of the characters.
In addition to marvelling at the artworks, MOSTown patrons can redeem a range of limited-edition premium upon spending a designated amount. The complete set makes the perfect souvenirs from this art journey.
An interactive platform with unique functions for a “smart” tour
To enrich the artistic experience, exhibition goers can enjoy a veritable “smart” guided tour on an interactive platform, accessible by scanning the corresponding QR code in the venue with their smartphones. The “AR guide” function provides an audio guide and information for visitors to better understand and appreciate the artworks, whereas young visitors can take interactive AR photos with the “AR snap” function whenever they encounter the sculptures of Sanrio characters, namely Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars, My Melody and Pompompurin.
Unprecedented exhibition with 5 zones and immersive experience of 2 Van Gogh masterpieces
“MOSTown x Sanrio characters Christmas Galleria” features 5 interactive exhibition zones. Visitors can kick off the journey by taking a few photos with a palette-inspired Hello Kitty installation. They will then enter the “Starry sky over the Rhone” zone, which welcomes everyone who has successfully registered as a member of H‧COINS, the loyalty programme of 7 Henderson Land shopping malls. In this experiential zone, visitors can walk with their loved ones on a romantic animated journey aboard a dainty wooden boat. Spectacular visual effects and motion graphics will usher them into Van Gogh’s starry night, as they listen to stories in the accompany of Hello Kitty. Before they leave the zone, visitors can receive the video of their magical journey filmed by the mall.
H‧COINS members can also enjoy the privilege of taking a nap with gudetama on a sprawling golden wheat field in the “Vincent Van Gogh Rest from Work” zone. Apart from the “AR guide”, visitors can select “AI smart filters” on the interactive platform to take Impressionist-style photos and become a character in Van Gogh’s painting.
Ladies will love “Claude Monet” zone, a showcase of the legendary painter’s masterpieces spotting Sanrio characters in their cutest – Little Twin Stars in traditional yukata boating in the waterlily pond in Le Bassin aux nymphéas: harmonie verte; Cinnamoroll and his friends Mocha, Chiffon and Milk picnicking in Coquelicots, environs d’Argenteuil, as a fluffy Cinnamoroll-shape cloud flies overhead; and Hello Kitty, My Melody and Cinnamoroll joining a fishing trip in Monet’s garden in En norvégienne, ou la Barque à Giverny.
Sanrio characters travel through time to appear in classic artworks
Celebrating the glamourous Belle Époque in late 19th century France, the “Impressionism” zone is the perfect spot for art buffs: Hello Kitty, Little Twin Stars and My Melody are dancing with the ballerinas in Le Foyer de la danse à l’Opéra de la rue Le Peletier; Kuromi is nibbling at a sweet apple in Pommes et oranges, with a few apples adorned with her iconic skull logo; the sluggish gudetama is full of energy in Le cirque, joined by Nisetama and circus performers to stage a breath-taking performance. After appreciating a row of signature impressionist paintings, visitors can go on the interactive platform to create a personalized Christmas e-card that merges their headshots with Sanrio characters, and send it on the spot to friends and relatives to wish them a festive season.
The “The Grand Gallery” is shot through with world-class artworks hidden with loads of surprises. In La Joconde. Portrait de Monna Lisa, Mona Lisa is donning Hello Kitty jewellery, which adds a girly touch to her natural grace. Elsewhere, visitors are challenged to find Dear Daniel and Hello Kitty hidden in Le Printemps and L’Eté. Art buffs should not miss the 3D artwork Hippopotame, given a modern twist by Hello Kitty elements to become a time-transcending creation.
As the finale of the art tour, My Melody awaits you at the “Art Piazza” located at L3 activity zone to take interactive AR photos with visitors against the backdrop of Sanrio characters and the masterpieces, so that the artistic journey can be savoured again and again.
Spend to redeem limited-edition art-theme premium
Riding on the exhibition, MOSTown has designed the limited-edition “MOSTown x Sanrio characters Christmas Galleria” tableware collection, which comprises 4 items – “La nuit étoilée” napkin, “Le Foyer de la danse à l’Opéra de la rue Le Peletier” placemat, “En norvégienne, ou la Barque à Giverny” breadbasket and “La Méridienne” diatomaceous earth coaster – and makes for a great collectible. By spending HK$450 or more on the same day via electronic payment at shops in one of 4 designated shop categories and at one F&B outlet at MOSTown, customers can redeem one item* from the tableware collection (customers need to present a maximum of 2 original machine-printed receipts from different shops together with the original machine-printed receipt from an F&B outlet, and the corresponding original electronic payment slips; each receipt must indicate a spending of HK$100 or above). Mallgoers can also redeem tasteful accessories perfect for office workers and students alike, including a handy foldable backpack and mask case**, upon spending a designated amount.
*The tableware collection consists of 4 items, redeemable by shop category. Each person is entitled to one premium redemption per day. Stocks are limited and available on a first-come, first-served basis.
**Each person is entitled to one gift redemption per day while stocks last.
