An exhibition on Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and his impact on fashion and art is now on at the Hong Kong Plaza in downtown Shanghai. [Photo provided to China Daily]
An exhibition on Swedish filmmaker Ingmar Bergman and his impact on fashion and art is now on at the Hong Kong Plaza in downtown Shanghai.
The exhibition will run till Nov 9 as part of celebrations for the 100th anniversary of the accomplished film auteur's birth.
Curated by Swedish-Chinese Wang Kaimei, the exhibition is a part of the Swedish Institute's international tour for Bergman. Apart from his life story, the exhibition also features four of his major films - The Seventh Seal, Persona, Scenes from a Marriage, and Fanny and Alexander.
"At home, most Swedes have watched at least one of his films, Fanny and Alexander, which is shown on Swedish television every Christmas," said Lisette Lindahl, Sweden's Consul-general.
"Now, some of the pictures from this very film are being exhibited here. I hope visitors will enjoy the visually pleasant pictures and fashion objects showcased. The exhibition is a lighthearted interpretation of Bergman's art, despite how grave and depressing his films can be sometimes."
A scene from
The Seventh Seal [Photo provided to China Daily]
The winner of three Academy Awards, including Best Foreign Language Film, and more than 10 awards at international film festivals, Bergman is recognized as one of the greatest artists of all time.
Since he received his toy cinematograph Laterna Magica at the age of 10, the Swede has created over 60 films and documentaries, most of which he had directed and written.
"If film had mainly been regarded as a sheer tool for story-telling and visual entertainment before, Bergman endowed film with more depth related to philosophical reflection on life and death, the existence of God and the soul of human beings," said Wang Kaimei.
"In 1973, Bergman made his first film for television - a telecommunication medium he adored that had changed the world," said Wang.
"During the preparation for this exhibition, I wondered how he would admire the technological advancements today, when social media and the internet have become the new mass media norm, if he were still alive. And this is why we have brought the exhibition to Shanghai, a modern cosmopolis that he would have liked," she added.
Fashion inspired by Ingmar Bergman [Photo provided to China Daily]
Bergman's icon style has also inspired those beyond the filmmaking realm. Many fashion companies and designers have cited how much inspiration they have drawn from Bergman's cinematic universe and his unique personal style. Several articles of Bergman's stylish clothing are also being showcased at the exhibition.
According to Lindahl, the exhibition is one of the projects of this year's 20th China Shanghai International Arts Festival. During the festival, another Bergman-related event - the theatre play Wood Paintingperformed by the Romeo & Juliet Choir from Sweden - will be presented. The play was the basis of Bergman's masterpiece The Seventh Seal.
In addition, there will also be a seminar held at the end of this year when film experts, directors and actors from Sweden and China will discuss Bergman's virtues and vices.
If You Go
Laterna Magica: Ingmar Bergman and his legacy in art and fashion
Dates: Oct 20-Nov 9
Venue: Ground Floor, Hong Kong Plaza (South), 283 Middle Huaihai Road, Shanghai
