Visionaire, founded by Cecilia Dean and James Kaliardos, forms a joint venture with Edmund Chu, founder of Stark Global Holding, the China-based firm, to produce high-caliber art and fashion projects and experiences in China.
URF & TX Huaihai | Youth Energy Center will become a service providing partner
in this joint venture. Chinese mall operator Bailian merged two disused department
stores on Shanghai’s Huaihai Road in partnership with urban renewal firm URF to
create TX Huaihai. Stark Visionaire will host an ongoing program of activations
on the second floor of TX Huaihai titled Visionaire Presents……….at Stark.
Stark Visionaire will connect brands with artists to concept, curate, design, and produce immersive art installations with corresponding outreach including apparel, products, and film/video that will offer visitors once-in-a-lifetime experiences with limited-edition keepsakes available exclusively at Visionaire Presents……….at Stark.
Dean explains, “Visionaire has deep routes in experiential activations and we look forward to sharing that knowledge with a new audience. We are excited to work with both local and international artists and brands in China. With Edmund’s vast knowledge of the marketplace, we have found a great partner.”
Chu adds “I have been an avid collector of Visionaire editions for many years and seeing what Cecilia and James have done creatively—
mixing art/fashion/entertainment—is something to behold. I sincerely believe that the Chinese market will open their arms and appreciate their genius.”
“As a first of its kind retail concept in China, blending art curation together with retail (aka curetail) we are excited to work with Visionaire and SGH as one of our partners to help bring this concept to life at TX Huaihai” says Dickson Seto, Founder of URF & TX Huaihai.
Stark Visionaire's first exhibition at TX Huaihai will introduce and showcase Visionaire editions — the highly coveted publications, known as the “Haute Couture” of print — never before available in China.
"Visionaire Presents VISIONAIRE at Stark" is an immersive installation of hundreds of images by the world’s greatest artists and creatives from the past 68 editions, spanning over 25 years of groundbreaking image making and conceptual publishing. Current editions, as well as a special release of Visionaire archival editions will be accessible to the public to experience and a very limited quantity, along with related apparel and products, will be available for purchase, exclusively at Visionaire Presents……….at Stark, starting December 31, 2019.
For 2020 and beyond, Stark Visionaire establishes a Shanghai-based experiential agency focused on innovative programming and retail with local and international brands, guiding and facilitating them to support press-worthy, audience-engaging, and social media-friendly installations and experiences.
By doing so, Stark Visionaire offers the opportunity for brands to communicate exceptional messages to their core supporters along with new audiences, and to become part of the larger cultural conversation.