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From 1–9 June 2026, In the First Light and In the Lone Starlight—the original artworks that inspired the ISABELLE.C Xiangyun Silk Printed Collection—were invited to participate in the 61st Venice Biennale Parallel Exhibition (Mostra Parallela). The exhibition concluded successfully at Palazzo Pisani Revedin in Venice, Italy.
Through their cross-disciplinary artistic language, the two works explored the limitless possibilities of contemporary creativity while demonstrating ISABELLE.C’s ongoing engagement with the international art world and the growing global recognition of its artistic vision.
The exhibition was jointly curated by Samuel Baghdassarian and Philip Gold, curator of Asian Goldwind Art. Hong Kong young artists Isaac Chen and Isabelle Chen were specially invited to participate, creating a distinctive intergenerational dialogue through art.
As one of the world's oldest and most influential international art events, the Venice Biennale gathers pioneering artistic ideas and creative practices from diverse cultural backgrounds. On this global stage, original Chinese artistic expression continues to engage confidently and openly in international cultural dialogue, showcasing the vitality of contemporary creativity rooted in Chinese culture.
The Director of Palazzo Pisani Revedin (fourth from left), curator Philip Gold (far right), ISABELLE.C Founder Xiong Jiawen (third from left), and distinguished guests gathered for a commemorative photograph during the opening ceremony.
Openning Ceremony
ART IS FASHION
From Canvas to the World Stage
Left: In the First Light — By Isabelle ChenRight: In the Lone Starlight — By Isaac Chen
The two featured artworks employ abstract geometric composition as their primary visual language. Through the interplay of colour blocks, lines, and negative space, they create a rhythmic visual order rich in movement and spatial depth.
A dialogue unfolds among layered shades of blue, gold, orange, and violet, reflecting the Eastern aesthetic principles of balance, emptiness, and the flow of energy while embracing contemporary explorations of structure, order, and emotional expression.
These artworks also serve as the creative foundation for the ISABELLE.C Xiangyun Silk Printed Collection. Their colours, textures, and compositional elements have been translated into textile design, transforming visual art into a wearable artistic language.
Balancing rational structure with emotional resonance, the works contemplate time, memory, and the energy of life, creating a meaningful bridge between local cultural experience and the broader global art discourse.
Notably, both artworks and the Xiangyun Silk creations derived from them have recently been selected for permanent presentation at the Guoyun New Chinese Cultural Reception Hall in Beijing, a national-level platform dedicated to contemporary Chinese cultural exchange. Their inclusion further promotes the contemporary interpretation and international dissemination of Xiangyun Silk, one of China's most treasured intangible cultural heritage textiles.
With the core image of “dawn breaking through darkness ”, it responds to the emotional appeal of the “In Minor Keys” theme . The work uses soft and warm tones, without intense color contrasts or complex compositions. It focuses on capturing the quiet moment when the first ray of dawn penetrates the darkness, depicting the gentle gradient of light and the delicate changes of the morning. It abandons deliberate artistic exaggeration and restores the pure texture of the morning light, just like the gentle melody of a minor key. It conveys a sense of warmth and hope amid darkness, reflecting her sincere perception of “light and warmth” and perfectly echoing the Biennale's focus on "subtle, intimate and real emotional expression".
Taking "a single star shining in the night" as the core image, it continues the connotation of the "In Minor Keys" theme of "introversion and calmness", forming a "day and night echo" with "In the First Light” by Isabelle Chen. The work adopts low-saturation soft tones, depicting the quiet scene of a single star hanging high in the dark night, without redundant elements. It focuses on the subtle emotional fluctuations in the quiet night, interpreting the "loneliness and warmth" in Isaac’s perspective. It not only conveys the peace and tranquility of the night, but also implies the power of "even a single star can emit light" , which is in line with the Biennale's requirement of "focusing on inner feelings and abandoning grand narratives".
ISABELLE.C Founder Xiong Jiawen showcases Xiangyun Silk printed creations inspired by original artworks by emerging Hong Kong artists.
For ISABELLE.C, art has never been confined to a single medium; it is the core language that runs throughout the brand’s creative philosophy.
Guided by its signature concept, “ART IS FASHION,” the brand continually explores the boundaries between art, fashion, craftsmanship, and contemporary lifestyle.
Drawing inspiration from the artworks exhibited at the Venice Biennale, ISABELLE.C has developed a couture Xiangyun Silk collection that transforms artistic expression into wearable form, extending the life of the artwork beyond the gallery space.
To commemorate the exhibition, the brand also created a limited-edition Venice Biennale postcard collection infused with distinctive Eastern aesthetics, which quickly became a favourite collectible among visitors.
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