Step inside the Seoul edition of Dior’s traveling retrospective, where couture meets Korean craft in a space designed to be experienced, not just seen.
Seoul’s Dongdaemun Design Plaza has been transformed into a Dior universe. The latest stop on the maison’s global retrospective, “Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams,” is now open, offering a reimagined take on the house’s legacy through a Korean lens. This edition is the ninth since the exhibition’s 2017 debut in Paris and the fourth collaboration between Dior and OMA partner Shohei Shigematsu.
Shigematsu’s scenography breaks from the traditional gallery format. Instead of compartmentalized rooms, the exhibition flows around a central void inspired by the hanok courtyard. At its heart is “The Garden,” a 12-meter-tall moon jar structure lined with hanji trees and blossoms by artist Hyun Joo Kim. This space serves as both anchor and portal, inviting visitors into a world where fashion becomes spatial.
Each gallery reinterprets Dior’s history through Korean craft and materiality. “Dior Legacy” features a ribbon-like structure inspired by jogakbo patchwork, tracing the house’s creative directors. “Lady Dior” draws from red lacquerware cabinetry, transforming modular units into sculptural showcases of the iconic bag. The “Colorama” room flips the usual linear logic into a chromatic wheel, surrounding visitors with primary hues at the center and diffused shades beyond.
The exhibition also features contributions from Korean artists including Hyun Joo Kim, Soo Sunny Park, and Zadie Xa, intertwining their works with Dior’s legacy.
“Christian Dior: Designer of Dreams” is on view at Art Hall 1 of Dongdaemun Design Plaza in Seoul from April 19 to July 13, 2025.
