Artist Yinka Ilori Teams Up With Luxury Fashion House MCM For Frieze Seoul

Inspired by a mutual vision for community, inclusivity & environmental consciousness, MCM's latest partnership with British-Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori is an ode to many things, but above all, the beauty of craft and creativity.

Redefining fashion's relationship with art through emotion & perspective, the collection lets the viewer get closer to llori's distinctive practice, which is famed for upcycling furniture into captivating works of art. The result? A multicoloured array of intricate designs that 'clothe the mundane', turning the unusual into the extraordinary.

Highlighting 'empathy and co-existence' as a central theme, the exhibition is set to debut at the MCM HAUS Flagship in Seoul for the city's Frieze week, starting on 6 September. Two displays make up the work, which is seen through a total of 20 individual (not to mention impractical) chairs. Nevertheless, just because they're not necessarily 'sensible' (who cares for uniformity anyway) doesn't mean they're considered absent from the notion of thoughtful design.

A true reflection of Ilori's signature approach, the collection thrives on diverse motifs of colour, architecture, and spaces to encourage visitors to see new perspectives. The keynote display, forged with the affirmation that 'There is Good in All of Us' - a sentiment that lends itself to the collection's title - explores tensions surrounding the idea of inner vs outer beauty. 'Complementing each artwork is a kaleidoscope, enticing visitors into a dance of colours and patterns,' noted Ilori in an artist statement. 'It's an invitation to delve deeper, to discover the beauty beneath the overt, signifying an unending cycle of growth, balance, and rejuvenation.'

As president of MCM AG, Sabine Brunner commented, 'Our collaboration with Yinka Ilori is more than an art exhibit; it's a narrative of shared stories, values, and the transformative power of perspective.'

The second part of the exhibition is titled 'Looking At Me' and features ten chairs. Six are from the early stages of Ilori's career, which stand next to four new pieces, all in conversation with one another and, in one way or another, capture Ilori's coming of age as an artist and designer.

Beauty is at the heart of this exhibition, seen through the craft, curation and artist's technique that upcycles used chairs in line with a message that reminds visitors to find beauty in the unexpected.