“A nimble genius unique to his time whose magical name combines God [Dieu] and gold [or]”, Jean Cocteau once said. “Or” – in English, gold – is intrinsic to Dior, inscribed at the very heart of its name. A precious, iridescent symbol, wonderfully reinterpreted by the founding couturier and his successors, that was revealed – in all its forms, expressions and manifestations – throughout an enchanting retrospective held at the Guardian Art Center in Beijing.

Like an invitation to explore this powerful, alchemical code, the exhibition opened with a fabulous cabinet of curiosities that transcribed the House’s inventive effervescence. Room after room revealed the themes and emblems that have punctuated and shaped its history. The flowers, the botanical world, the New Look and the savoir-faire in the Ateliers recounted more than seventy-five years of inventiveness placed into perspective with striking scenography.

As the embodiment of the constantly renewed dialogue between fashion and perfume, J’adore revealed its many facets: the subtle complexity of its olfactory bouquet, its hypnotic radiance, the voluptuous design of its flacon and the triumphant aura of its muses, dressed in extraordinary golden haute couture dresses since 1999. An eternal icon, the fragrance is constantly being reconsidered: Francis Kurkdjian – Creative Director of Parfums Christian Dior – happily lent his talents to that exercise for a new interpretation. An initiative that resulted in L’Or de J’adore, a magnetic scent whose exceptional campaign is personified and sublimated more than ever by Rihanna.

Brilliantly celebrating and perpetuating the sincere affinities between Dior and the world of design, the escape continued as visitors were guided by a series of artworks. Compositions by artists from around the world included portraits by Katerina Jebb, a multi-sensory digital fresco by Refik Anadol, sculptures by Jean-Michel Othoniel and Johan Creten, an immersive installation by Élise Morin that was specially developed for this event, and creations by the Chinese artists Lin Tianmiao and Liu Jianhua, which were presented in dedicated spaces.

Representing virtuoso excellence, gold also adorned singular variations of the Lady Dior handbag as reimagined by international personalities in the Lady Dior As Seen By and Dior Lady Art editions. Selected models designed for the ninth chapter of this enchanting project were also on display.

The year 2024 marked the 60^th anniversary of diplomatic relations between France and China. Echoing the steadfast ties between Dior and that fascinating country was an array of unique pieces signed by Chinese artists – Bao Yang and Liu Wa, Chen Ke, Han Duyi, Liu Fujie, Wang Yuyang, Zhang Ding and Zheng Guogu – which were exhibited alongside others by Ai Jing, Hong Hao, Ma Qiusha and Shen Wei. An exhilarating tribute to the magnificence of gold, as seen by Dior.