On December 6th, Prada inaugurated its public exhibition, Pradasphere II, in Shanghai at the Start Museum. Told through a selection of stories curated by co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, the exhibit traces the history and culture of Prada from its origins in 1913 to the present day. More than 400 artifacts — physical and digital — are on display, drawn from the fashion archive as well as decades-long engagements across art, architecture, culture, and sport.
Celebrated with a vernissage in the presence of Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, Pradasphere II is on view at the Start Museum, a destination that opened in 2022 after an ambitious renovation by Jean Nouvel. The museum is located in the historical building of the Nanpu Railway Station, a sea-to-land transport hub whose origins date back to 1907.
To mark the occasion, a private dinner and party took place at the Hengshan Cinema. Originally opened on January 5, 1952, the space was the first newly constructed cinema in Shanghai after the birth of New China. Today the unique cultural heritage site is known as the city’s only garden cinema.
Throughout the evening, the music was curated by Clara3000. Select guests from the worlds of cinema, culture, fashion, art, architecture, business attended. Guests included actors: Bai Baihe, Bai Yufan, Jeff Goldblum, Gong Li, Huang Jue, Kara Wai, Prada Ambassador Li Xian, Lv Xingchen, Hunter Schafer, Tan Jianci; directors: Jia Zhang-Ke, Liang Ming, Yang Lina; Athlete: Zhang Weili; models: Du Juan, Liu Wen, Lv Yan, Wang Wenqin, Zhao Lei; artists: Cao Fei, Lin Tianmiao, Song Dong, Wang Gongxin, Yang Fudong, Yin Xiuzhen.
Pradasphere II is free and open to the public from December 7th, 2023 to January 21st, 2024 at the Start Museum, 111 Ruining Road, Xuhui District.