PRADASPHERE II: OF PAST, PRESENT AND FUTURE

Prada's immersive exhibition, Pradasphere II, takes us on an intimate journey through the brand's visionary trajectory over its 110-year legacy.

- AI LIM

At the start of Shanghai’s West Bund Cultural Corridor lies the Start Museum nestled in the historical building of Nanpu Railway Station—a symbolic sea-to-land transport hub dating back to 1907. Located on the west bank of the Huangpu River, the Start Museum, founded by He Juxing, opened its doors in December 2022 after an ambitious renovation by French architect and Pritzker Architecture Prize winner, Jean Nouvel. It was a chilly day in Shanghai, with sunny blue skies that accompanied us on our journey along the Bund to the museum. As we inched closer to our destination, the building’s industrial layout was instantly distinguishable, made even more prominent with the presence of historic train cars and an angular roof adorned with Prada’s signature green signage and logo: Pradasphere II.

Held for the first time in Shanghai, Prada unveiled a one-of-a-kind exhibition, Pradasphere II, tracing its history and culture from its origins in 1913 to the present day. An extension of the Pradasphere exhibition first debuted in 2014 in London and Hong Kong, the exhibition presented “the world of Prada, told through stories, objects, and ideas drawn from the archive”. The exhibition, curated by co-creative directors Miuccia Prada and Raf Simons, featured more than 400 artefacts— both physical and digital—that included Prada’s “decadeslong engagements across art, architecture, culture and sport”.