How do you interpret “idol”? Is it a figure to be worshipped, or a spiritual refuge? Regardless, idol culture seems to have never faded. Prada has invited artist Cao Fei to collaborate on a special project “Almost Human,” and has brought in Prada’s new spokesperson, Chinese rising idol Cai Xukun, to explore the culture of idols and the symbiotic relationship between celebrities and their fans, with the project set to coincide with Prada’s Spring/Summer 2020 menswear fashion show in Shanghai.
Cao Fei expressed that she used to be a fan of idols, but as she grew older, the concept of “idols” gradually became blurred. However, seeing her own children growing up and more and more young idols emerging, she conceived a project with “idols” as the theme, incorporating her observations of idol culture from anthropological and sociological perspectives, and came up with the concept of “Almost Human.”
Cai Xukun is seen as a cultural phenomenon in his work, placed in a futuristic archaeological scenario of post-human era. He embodies both a perfect artificial KUN, lying in a showcase for viewers to admire, and a visitor. What do you feel when you see a specimen that looks exactly like yourself? This is the conflict that Cao Fei wants to present in the work.
Source of information and images: Provided by Prada
