Osvaldo Mariscotti, Untitled, 2016
Oil on canvas, diptych
Each signed and dated 'Mariscotti /16' on the reverse
Each 61 x 61 cm. (24 x 24 in.), Overall 61 x 121.9 cm. (24 x 48 in.)
The Endless Creativity of Laura Cheung Wolf
Ahead of Phillips’ New Now: Modern & Contemporary Art and Design auction in Hong Kong, we invited Lala Curio to create bespoke wall scenes in our gallery. Here, the brand’s visionary tells us more about her approach and shares a few of her favorites from the auction.
PHILLIPS: Tell us about the work you’ve prepared for the Phillips auction preview exhibition.
LAURA CHEUNG WOLF: For the exhibition, we did two bespoke scenic walls. The sisal wall with dramatic swaying ginkgo leaves is fully hand-embroidered — the scale is majestic while harmonious with the tone-on-tone ensemble, with the richly textured surfaces from the seagrass base as well as the intricate embroidery of beads and sequins. Ginkgo is an important motif in decorative arts both in Chinese and Japanese culture. It symbolizes resilience, good luck, and longevity.
LCW: The other wall of drifting Fuki is from our most recent collection, Feuillage. It debuted in Paris at Deco Off. Each Fuki leaf is hand-embroidered and three-dimensional, with each leaf embroidered on organza with a wire frame, then appliquéd onto the base wallpaper. The result is a leaf that you can sculpt with your own hands. The experience is incredible, like a crunchy fall leaf sparkling on the deep, dark teal velvet ground. The inspiration was sparked by a hike I took on Japan’s famed Yakushima Island — the mystical forest where Studio Ghibli's film Totoro took inspiration. This trip really ignited my childhood nostalgia, and I am so excited to share this piece with the discerning clients of Phillips Auction House.
P: What is your approach to pairing decorative and fine arts in an interior?
LCW: I am a big advocate for treating decorative arts as art. I value the history, the craft by the hands of the artisans who made the object, and I love the stories of the provenance behind each piece. Like design, I truly believe it's a wholistic approach. I have an interest in the interiors as much as I do in fashion, photography, and graphics. For someone who appreciates the arts, the difference between decorative and fine arts becomes a fine line. Working with interiors is like painting on a three-dimensional canvas, assembling and composing beautiful objects to narrate a story. Both decorative and fine arts come together harmoniously to tell the story.
I was surrounded by textiles and decorative arts for as long as I can remember. I was born in Australia, grew up in Hong Kong, and both sides of my family have been in decorative arts for generations. My grandmother specialized in cloisonné — an imperial enameling technique cast in bronze. She was one of the only merchants to export these treasures to Hong Kong to share the craft with the world. My father’s side of the family produced stunning rosewood furniture. The family lineage opened doors to artisans creating the most exquisite works of art, and I am committed to sharing their stories with the design industry. The arts run deep in my bones, and I have always longed to create beauty and share artisan works through my lens, driven by the mission to continue these treasured crafts for future generations.
P: Are there any specific works from the auction that resonate strongly with you?
LCW: Vladimir Kagan is the icon of modernity, the beacon of 20th-century design. When I was working in New York doing fashion event production, we did all of Tom Ford's events, where the Kagen name is most celebrated.
I love the lines of the Contour lounge chair — so sophisticated. The midcentury aesthetic is so versatile in different interiors.
LCW: I did a collection inspired by a Kusama pumpkin sculpture, where our wallpaper panorama was the built-up experience to the unraveling of the sculpture — so dramatic. I have so many fond memories of Kusama’s works, from the art island Naoshima island to the kids' school pumpkin party, the power of the pumpkin has infiltrated into every creative aspect of our lives.
Lastly, the avant-garde KAWS pink chair is beyond fabulous — out of this world, hilarious. It is so just otherworldly and playful! I love design that does not take itself too seriously.
P: Where do you look for inspiration?
LCW: My creative process works like an artist’s. Inspiration can come to me from anywhere. It’s often unexpected. I’m always on the go, and it’s often when I’m in motion or traveling that the best ideas arrive. An idea will strike, and I will sketch it down.
