Chinese born artist Jiji has made a name for himself through his cartoon of an annoyed panda. Ten years after creating the character, he is now launching his brand Hi Panda Fashion in France – proving that fashion and naughty art can cohabit, even in the capital of Haute Couture.

After working as a fashion consultant for several years, Jiji launched Hi Panda Fashion in 2002 in Shanghai. The clothes consist of basic jeans, jackets, for men and women -- all bearing the mighty panda, in various compromising positions. Today, there is a total of 50 shops in China and Japan, and one in Paris: On the 22nd of January, the Pop Up Hi Panda opened at the Citadium Paris, to be followed by the Galeries Lafayettes and London’s Harvey Nichols later in the year. And there is more: On the 23rd of February, the Palais de Tokyo will hold Jiji’s first French show, where he will show paintings, néon sculptures, with heavy pop art influences, all in honour his beloved panda. There, the artist will also introduce the viewers to the panda’s equally moody fiancée. Today, Jiji talks to Dazed Digital about art, China, youth and fashion.

Dazed Digital: How has your panda character evolved since its creation ten years ago?
Jiji: At the beginning, I had created a series of characters: Noodle Girl, Dumpling Boy, and also the little Panda which you can see today.  I was invited to participate the exhibition 'China Design Now' at Victoria & Albert Museum in 2008, and I chose the Panda because it is the emblematic animal of China. After making one Evil Panda sculpture, now there are series of sculptures, paintings, installations, and clothes.

DD: What does the panda symbolise - about yourself, about society, about China?
Jiji: This little panda symbolise the Young Chinese generation post-1980s. By putting the panda in all kinds of situations, it reflects what is happening in China right now, reflects the lifestyle of this young people. These teenagers become adults, take the dominant position in the society, and challenge their parents. These adventures are which I try to show through the panda.

DD: Why expand to fashion?
Jiji: I want to let young people express themselves. The young generation uses very much fashion codes to create their new identity. However in China, we could only find foreign fashion brands. That’s why I want to create a Chinese cloth brand which is able to answer the current young people’s needs.  

DD: What is, in your opinion, the relation between art and fashion? Can they work together in harmony?
Jiji: Art and Fashion could work together very well. Now we can see more and more collaborations between art and fashion. Especially, this is a very good way to influence more people, in their life in general and in every day. And the contemporary artist is becoming also a “designer” and the media give them more space that also reinforce the link with fashion.

DD: What will you be showing at the Palais de Tokyo in February? anything that your followers have never seen before?
Jiji: February at the Palais de Tokyo there’ll be sculptures and paintings: three black and white pandas sculptures are already exhibited in V&A Museum, all of the rest are especially created for this exhibition. I will show very flashy paintings. Some artworks are the beginning of series which are going to be developed in the future. For example the painting 'Tian’an Men' is the first painting of a series which is going to tell story about a little boy grow up in the new China. But always represented in the image of the panda!

DD: Round the world, what are the difference in reaction to your work?
Jiji: Everyone seems happy when he sees my panda, with its grumpy face. I don’t want to make artwork difficult to understand. I hope people can understand my artwork easily, like my panda, and then they start to think about the message I try to send. This exhibition at Palais de Tokyo is named 'Hi Panda', the little panda comes to France for the first time, and says Hi to everybody.