Shoe Exhibition
The extreme trends in footwear, from tiny Chinese slippers to high-heeled Turkish clogs, are on exhibit at the HKRI Taikoo Hui shopping mall in a display called “Shoes: Pleasure and Pain.”
The exhibition, mounted by Britain’s Victoria and Albert Museum, features more than 140 pairs of shoes from all over the world, dating back as far as the 1370s.
It shows how footwear reflects the social fabric of various epochs.
Highlights include a pair of shoes for bound feet that are smaller than the palm of an adult hand. The shoes feature exquisite craftsmanship, with silk, sequins and metal thread embroidery. Beautiful to behold, but the shoes were a pain to wear in the 17th century, when bound feet were considered the feminine ideal.
There is also a pair of 29-centimeterhigh bath clogs, a potent symbol of wealth and status in the old Ottoman Empire.
Shoes designed by iconic designers, like Jimmy Choo and Vivienne Westwood, and worn by celebrities like David Beckham and Naomi Campbell are also exhibited. Included are 14 shoes worn by Chinese pop singer Karen Mok.
The exhibition will run through November 5.
