Face masks have become the must-have accessory in this pandemic. So it is no surprise then that so many are jumping on the bandwagon with their own take - the latest being artists. Come to think of it, though, masks are the perfect canvas for self-expression, as they allow you to make a statement without opening your mouth.
K11 has partnered with The Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles to produce MOCA masks, exclusive to the Asia Pacific.
Featuring designs by Virgil Abloh, Mark Grotjahn, Alex Israel, Barbara Kruger, Yoko Ono, Catherine Opie, Pipilotti Rist, Hank Willis Thomas and The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts, the limited-edition masks are on display at K11 Musea"s Gold Ball and available via shop.k11.com/en/eshop/moca.
The partnership was initiated by MOCA trustee Adrian Cheng Chi-kong.
"These limited-edition designs showcase the creativity of some of the world's most respected artists, and I hope they provide stylish options to the community and help people adapt to the new normal, all while supporting the art industry at the same time," said Cheng, who is also the founder of K11 Group and CEO of New World Development.
The collectible items include an exclusive creation for K11 by Israel, which features a sunset palette design mask with a specially designed artist portrait pin, a colorful floral design mask by Andy Warhol that echoes the same artwork which is in MOCA's permanent collection, Ono's puzzle design A Piece of Sky, Grotjahn's geometric patterns and detail from Opie's Bo from Being and Having.
For those who love typography, there are Abloh's Still Speaks Loudly, Kruger's Better Safe Than Sorry and Thomas' Life, Handle with Care.
Made in Los Angeles, these wearable artworks (HK$320) are MOCA's first mask project.
"Wearing a mask communicates that you're mindful of protecting others, your community and yourself," said MOCA director Klaus Biesenbach.
"Being a responsible and caring citizen just became even more beautiful because of these artists' contributions."
Kruger has also contributed to another art-mask collaboration.
She is one of six international artists invited by Wedel Art Collective to produce a set of face masks. Other artists featured in the collaboration are Jenny Holzer, Rashid Johnson, Raymond Pettibon, Lorna Simpson and Rosemarie Trockel.
Holzer's You-Me mask taps into the necessity of mask-wearing. "I like to think of my work as useful," she said. "That is a recurrent impulse, when something happens in the world, if I have an idea that will be properly responsive Not necessarily a cure or a solution but at least an offering."
Pettibon's design features Vavoom, a figure inspired by Felix the cat that he has drawn since the mid-1980s.
"It has been a joy to work with these exceptional artists to realize their face masks - each one is a meaningful, wearable artwork. It's hard to over-emphasize the importance of wearing masks," said Wedel Art Collective founder Amelie von Wedel.
The collection will be available exclusively on matchesfashion.com from August 24 at 40 (HK$407) each.
All proceeds from the sales will be donated to charity. Half will go to the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for WHO and the rest will be divided between two relief charities working to support artists whose livelihoods have been severely diminished by the pandemic.
