The Chanel Mobile Art Pavillion in Hong Kong, which was designed by Zaha Hadid. (photo Tony Sze/Chanel)

A few weeks ago, this squat, white structure, designed by architect Zaha Hadid, took shape on a car park rooftop in Hong Kong. Word quickly spread among the surrounding skyscrapers that the unusual-looking building would house a major international art show. (photo Tony Sze/Chanel)

The show is called Chanel Mobile Art, and is being financed by the French luxury goods company. Marketers insist that the show's UFO-like container is derived from the classic Chanel bag. While Hong Kong is the exhibition's first stop of a two-year global tour, the building will be moved in its entirety from destination to destination. (photo Tony Sze/Chanel)

From afar, the structure by Hadid raises curiosity and provides a stunning contrast to the local skyline. Walking through Mobile Art's 700-square-meters, the curves of its white walls and nautilus layout are like nothing ever seen before in town. (photo Tony Sze/Chanel)

Chanel Mobile Art opened Feb. 27 and runs until April 5. Chanel required all the artists to produce work inspired by the quilted handbag, the "2.55," for "February 1955" when it was designed by Coco Chanel. Shown here is an installation on display designed by artists Loris Cecchini and Michael Lin. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

One of the most dramatic pieces in the show is this installation titled "at the bottom" by Tabaimo of Japan. Visitors go up steps to look down a "well" where walls are covered with mysterious, seemingly floating objects, representing the dreams of Chanel customers. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

"The Sidewalk" by Leandro Erlich of Argentina, is a very memorable work. It is a scene reflected in water of the Rue Cambon where the brand's legendary founder once held court. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

The Russian art group Blue Noses contributed an installation titled "Fifty Years After our Common Era," or "Handbag's Revolt." It features plain brown cartons that contain projections of naked female forms in continual motion. In one box, a woman repeatedly thwacks another with a red Chanel bag. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

Other exhibit highlights include these tattooed stuffed pigs and matching purses by Wim Delvoye of Belgium. The display is called "Jesus, Love & CHANEL bags." (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

Curator and leading French art critic Fabrice Bousteau, envisioned Mobile Art as something akin to walking into a movie. This giant Chanel purse, opened to reveal a Chanel compact designed by the artist Sylvie Fleury of Switzerland, emphasizes this feeling. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

The luxury label's most devoted fans will no doubt revel in the experience of being part of what feels like a very elaborate Chanel commercial. Pictured here is a piece titled "Urgent! Artist required" by Sophie Calle.  (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

To be successful, both luxury brands and artists need to master that alchemy which transforms a bit of leather and fabric or ink and paper into magic. Artists like Fabrice Hyber work to capture that concept with installations like the one pictured above. (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

The exhibition finishes with a room dominated by this "wishing tree" by John Lennon's widow, Yoko Ono. The show moves to Tokyo in July and New York in September. In 2009, it will be shown in London and Moscow. The tour will end in Paris in July 2010.  (photo François Lacour/Chanel)

Lire l'article "It's all in the (Chanel) bag: Art meets fashion" de Alexandra A.Seno http://www.iht.com/articles/2008/03/24/arts/chanelart.php