The ‘grandmaster’ of Chinese cinema, Wong Kar-wai, has worked with Hong-Kong photographer Wing Shya to curate a film for Saint Laurent. Entitled SELF 05 A Night in Shanghai, the film is intended to showcase the different sides of Saint Laurent’s personality. 

A Night in Shanghai is about traditional Shanghai meeting contemporary Saint Laurent. Featuring the Chinese model and Dazed China cover star Ju Xiaowen walking on a wire, the film represents an attempt at trying to find the balance in real life by comparing the past and the present.

Looking at the complexities of various individuals through the eyes of artists, the film is presented by Saint Laurent’s creative director Anthony Vaccarello, who selected the artists for the film. 

Vaccarello was inspired to choose the acclaimed Chinese director to curate the film for the way he envisions feelings through his work. “Kar-wai’s art is like a vivid dream projected into real life, which emphasises the contrast between the fragile aspect of humanity and reality,” the Belgian fashion designer explains. “It was a very instinctive process based on mutual respect and admiration, in the movie you can find and feel the Saint Laurent fantasy taking shape as a natural consequence.”

Following on from previous projects which have seen collaborations with the likes of American Psycho author Bret Easton Ellis, Italian performance artist Vanessa Beecroft, and filmmaker Gaspar Noé, the short movie will be premiered at Yuz Museum in Shanghai and will be accessible to the public from November 22 to 24.

Revisit the SS20 Saint Laurent gallery below.