There is good in all of us | Looking at me
MCM

The global luxury fashion house MCM invited Yinka Ilori to create a collection as part of the Frieze Art Fair in Seoul.

Centered around the theme of "Empathy and Coexistence", this exhibition features two displays of chairs through which Ilori shares the vision of MCM’s leading global zeitgeist in sustainability by conveying values of cultural diversity and inclusivity. Through upcycling a series of chairs using vivid patterns and hues, he infuses each piece with a narrative, presenting a space where visitors can come together as part of a communal experience and encourages them to look beyond the surface.

In this exhibition, Yinka Ilori communicates his distinctive approach to design through a series of 20 chairs, breathing new life into MCM HAUS on the first and third floors. In the first display, "THERE IS GOOD IN ALL OF US," Ilori unveils a specially crafted chair collection featuring MCM’s Visetos pattern. Originally found in London, the chairs have been given new life and are embedded with a kaleidoscope, metaphorically signifying the hidden beauty not immediately evident to the eye.

The second display, "LOOKING AT ME," consists of a collection of chairs created from 2014 to 2022, consisting of six early pieces and four new creations. Together, the pieces as if in conversation with each other, capture the Ilori’s memories of growing up in London as a British Nigerian and explore heritage, culture and family. The four new chairs are intimate, bold and unapologetic, capturing Ilori’s coming of age as a man as well as an artist and designer.

The designs, enjoyed by everyone, narrate the hope that people can come together and forge a better future. We hope that this exhibition offers an opportunity to look at others and the world with a warmer gaze.

Client
MCM

Practice
Art