Marilyn Monroe Exhibition Comes To Hong Kong: See Iconic Wardrobe Gadgets And Uncommon Artefacts
During her 40 years on earth, screen icon Marilyn Monroe changed the world of cinema and celebrity, but never put foot in Hong Kong. Now, more than 60 years after her tragic death, the Hollywood legend’s personal items are set to be showcased in the city for the very first time.
Highlights from a brand-new auction will be heading to Asia in two exclusive exhibitions presented for the first time in both Hong Kong and Shanghai. The public will be invited to view these artifacts in two museum-like exhibitions to be held first at the Fringe Club in Hong Kong from January 27 to February 1. Afterwards, the collection will travel to K11 Art Mall in Shanghai for an exhibition from March 6 to March 17 before heading back to Los Angeles where it will go on auction between March 28 and March 30.
The exhibition will feature personal property consisting of film wardrobe, photographs, documents and ephemera from the fascinating life of Marilyn Monroe, providing a gaze at the icon’s life and times during the height of her fame and influence on American pop culture.
Alongside Monroe’s personal items, the exhibition will also display artifacts from the early life of Playboy’s notorious magazine founder Hugh Hefner, direct from the Playboy Headquarters and Mansion.
Both born in 1926, Marilyn Monroe and Hugh Hefner gained worldwide fame when Monroe appeared in Hefner’s inaugural 1953 issue of Playboy. The magazine’s cover image and centerfold of the actress launched the success of Hefner’s men’s lifestyle magazine which he eventually turned into an empire and iconic global brand. Monroe’s appearance in Playboy turned her into an instant household name and enduring sex symbol who blazed her path like no other in Hollywood.
Strangely, Monroe and Hefner never met in person, yet their legacies are inextricably linked. Even stranger, in 1992 Hefner bought the tomb next to Monroe at Westwood Village Memorial Park in Los Angeles where he was laid to rest in 2017.
Auction highlights include a Mae West-inspired black and cellophane effect evening gown designed by legendary costume designer William Travilla, worn by Monroe during the filming of her classic 1955 film The Seven Year Itch. It comes with a black and white feather boa (not film’s original), similar to the one worn by Monroe with the gown (Estimate: US$100,000-$200,000).
Fans can catch a glimpse of the costume worn by Monroe as Lillian Russell for a pictorial feature in the December 22, 1958 issue of Life magazine, photographed by Richard Avedon. This lavender satin, boned leotard with neckline is trimmed with bouquets of fabric flowers and pink, lavender and cream draped chiffon sashes with pink satin bows and trimmed in lavender, pink and cream chiffon (Estimate: US$20,000- $40,000).
Other highlights from the exhibition include the original Jean Louis painted cream silk jersey cocktail dress worn by Monroe for The Misfits cast press conference in the summer of 1960 (Estimate: US$40,000-$60,000) and her custom shade of Elizabeth Arden lipstick in a goldtone case (Estimate: US$7,000-$9,000).
Icons: Playboy, Hugh Hefner, And Marilyn Monroe, free and open to the public, January 27 – February 1, Fringe Club (2 Lower Albert Road, Central)
Source: Prestige Online
