Japanese Artist Verdy Named Artistic Director of ComplexCon Hong Kong
LONDON — Japanese graphic artist Verdy, the mastermind behind Blackpink’s “Born Pink World” tour, has been named artistic director of the first edition of ComplexCon Hong Kong, scheduled for March 22 to 24.
It will mark the second time that Verdy, who has been attending ComplexCon since 2017, has helped ComplexCon shape its event lineup. In 2022, he was the artistic director of ComplexCon Long Beach.
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“For this year’s ComplexCon Hong Kong, I want to bring the Asian community together through new and exciting energy and I want to serve as the bridge between the old and new generations,” Verdy told WWD.
The artist called Hong Kong a very special place.
“My grandma first took me there when I was in elementary school. I also remember during high school, I would always see Nigo and Jun [Takahashi] going to Hong Kong, so it is a place that I always wanted to do something in. I got the opportunity five years ago when I did my first art show. Luckily, I got to know the creative scene there through my good friends Kevin Poon and Jerry Haha,” added Verdy.
Having recently collaborated with Kenzo creative director Nigo on a pop-up store at 66 Avenue des Champs-Élysées during the holiday season, the Osaka-born, Tokyo-based creative’s other notable projects include Girls Don’t Cry, Wasted Youth, his panda rabbit character Vick and, most recently, Visty.
Verdy has also worked with famous names such as Nike, Levi’s, Instagram, Coachella, Dover Street Market and McDonald’s China on a project titled the “Best Friends Forever” campaign that included a capsule collection, exhibition and large-scale sculptures across a network of more than 5,000 stores around China.
“There will be a lot of good energy because there will be different people from all industries coming together in one place. I’m going to bring my world. You can expect my projects, Girls Don’t Cry and Wasted Youth, and my characters Vick and Visty to be there,” the graphic artist said.
Late March is traditionally a busy period for events in China. ComplexCon Hong Kong will coincide with Dior’s men’s pre-fall 2024 runway show on March 23. Shanghai Fashion Week is set to kick off on March 25, while the Art Basel Hong Kong fair is scheduled from March 28 to 30.
The previous edition of Art Basel Hong Kong attracted several high-profile figures in the fashion and pop culture worlds, including Louis Vuitton men’s creative director Pharrell Williams, who hosted the first physical event outside of the U.S. for Joopiter, the digital-first auction platform founded by Williams, with American jewelry designer Lorraine Schwartz.
Verdy, who moves in the same circle as the likes of Williams, Dior men’s creative director Kim Jones, and Kenzo’s Nigo, revealed that he will “definitely bring some of my friends, but you will have to attend to see.”
At the same time, McDonald’s Hong Kong has been named the official taste partner of the fair. The sponsorship will include a pop-up with limited-time offers of food items featuring special packaging, a fashion capsule and a concert-viewing platform.
Randy Lai, chief executive officer of McDonald’s Hong Kong, said: “We continue to challenge ourselves by shaping the cultural conversation and building genuine and enduring connections with our customers. Coming in as the official taste partner for ComplexCon Hong Kong is taking another step to push our creative boundaries and cultivate the cultural landscape.”
As the first Complex in-person event to be held outside of North America, the global luxury streetwear and pop culture fair, supported by the Mega Arts and Cultural Events Fund of the Government of Hong Kong SAR, will occupy the 430,556-square-foot AsiaWorld-Expo venue, located next to the Hong Kong International Airport.
More headliners and brand partners will be revealed throughout the lead-up to the festival. Tickets for the event will go on sale later this month.
Guests will be able to indulge in an immersive pop culture experience, shop hundreds of exclusive releases from music, fashion, art, food, and sports brands, and attend talks from leading figures in pop culture.
Complex China has been the exclusive operator of the Complex brand in the Greater China region since 2021. It is a subsidiary of the Hong Kong-listed SV Vision Ltd., formerly known as Icicle Group.
With offices in Hong Kong, Beijing, Shanghai and Los Angeles, SV Vision Ltd.’s other businesses include the content and programming arm Studio SV, the marketing production team Icicle and Kicks Crew, a global e-commerce platform for athletic footwear and apparel.
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