Luxury house glitters in gold

This contrast between a hardened surface and a fragile quality is also a perspective of the piece by Liu Jianhua, who has been working primarily with ceramics, bringing to the exhibition two golden porcelain works — The Illuminated Object and Lady Dior Handbag.

The former piece provides an immersive experience made possible by hundreds of ceramic bottles shaped after the J'adore perfume hung in midair to look like raindrops.

"My piece is made to doubt the material and value and how they are associated with people's satisfaction and self-esteem," Liu says.

"It is natural for people to anticipate a better future — the more affluent, material life they lead, the happier they may look. But we should not overlook the building and accumulation of a spiritual life."