Every January, Maison & Objet Paris becomes more than a fair: it is a crossroads where designers, collectors, curators and cultural tastemakers converge to read the future of design. In 2026, this global meeting point welcomed Luminance by Simon Yam, an exhibition that stood out for its rare balance between artistic intimacy and collective creation.

Presented by the Hong Kong Fashion Designers Association and supported by the Cultural and Creative Industries Development Agency, Luminance by Simon Yam unfolded as a quiet yet powerful dialogue between art, fashion and craftsmanship, a project that resonated deeply within the creative ecosystem of Maison & Objet.

Simon Yam: From Personal Expression to Multigenerational Dialogue

Internationally recognised for his cinematic career, Simon Yam has developed a deeply personal artistic practice that extends far beyond the screen. Drawing from everyday life, emotion and intuition, his work bridges painting, embroidery, ink wash and digital media.
Crucially, Yam’s artistic journey resonates strongly with a younger generation: not as a figure of legacy, but as a living creative force. By continuously reinterpreting his own visual artistry through new mediums and collaborations, he opens his practice to dialogue, experimentation and reinterpretation , allowing his work to evolve across disciplines and generations.

Collaborative Craft: Four Designers, One Artistic Core

Invited to respond to Yam’s universe, four leading Hong Kong designers each brought a distinct perspective, translating his vision into wearable and functional creations.

Henry Lau approached Yam’s work through precision tailoring and sculptural construction, transforming painterly movement into structured silhouettes. His pieces explored the tension between control and fluidity, offering garments that feel architectural yet deeply human.

Aries Sin infused the project with her signature experimental femininity, working with soft volumes, layered textures and delicate contrasts. Her designs echoed Yam’s emotional subtlety, translating light and shadow into garments that feel intimate and expressive.

Mountain Yam introduced a conceptual and artisanal approach, focusing on texture, surface and material transformation. His interpretation emphasized sensoriality, allowing Yam’s visual energy to emerge through handcrafted details and unconventional fabric treatments.

PONDER.ER (Derek Cheng & Alex Po) brought a sharp, contemporary lens to the collaboration, reinterpreting Yam’s abstract compositions through modular forms and functional design. Their work balanced restraint and innovation, offering pieces where fashion becomes a medium for intellectual expression.

Together, the four designers formed a coherent yet multifaceted dialogue  each piece standing independently while contributing to a collective narrative shaped by light, movement and emotion.

Where Art Becomes Texture: The Tai Ping Collaboration

The exhibition extended into interior design through a collaboration with Tai Ping, the world-renowned Hong Kong carpet manufacturer. Using over 250 bespoke dyed yarns and traditional hand-tufting techniques, Simon Yam’s artworks were transformed into handwoven carpets conceived as immersive surfaces where art becomes part of daily life.

A Living Ecosystem of Creation

More than an exhibition, Luminance by Simon Yam illustrated a contemporary creative ecosystem, one where art, fashion, design and technology coexist. All pieces were made to order, conceived for real use rather than static display. Each creation was authenticated via blockchain technology, ensuring transparency, provenance and long-term value.

Presented within Maison & Objet, the project found its natural audience: professionals attuned to meaning, materiality and cultural relevance. It reaffirmed Hong Kong’s position as a fertile ground for cross-disciplinary creativity and Maison & Objet’s role as a global platform where such dialogues can unfold.

Luminance by Simon Yam moved away from spectacle, favoring a precise and collaborative approach where emotion and form were intrinsically connected.