SOGO Hong Kong

the final art

Gail Armstrong creates a papersculpture illustration for SOGO Hong Kong.

Gail's brief was to create an image for the 29th anniversary of the prestigious SOGO department store in Hong Kong. The image had to reflect the various departments and goods available throughout the store and feature typical shoppers, whilst being colourful, lively and festive. As well as trying to keep the image within a fashion and lifestyle context, Gail wanted to give the whole piece a sense of energy, flow and movement. So, without creating an actual scene as such, she worked with various key elements to tell various “stories” within the image.

a happy lady shopper

perfume scents

hot air balloon carrying the banner

Gail says "I created a strong diagonal through the image using sky above and a suggestion of a flowing red carpet or catwalk below. Flowers flow from the perfume bottle being tested by the woman in the foreground. As the flowers flow through the image, they transform into butterflies the largest of which lands on a woman's finger. The butterflies flow on up through the hot air balloons, past the main balloon which carries the banner announcing that this is SOGO’s 29th Anniversary, before finally turning into the flying birds."

Gail supplied both portrait and landscape versions of the red and blue background with each element extractable for separate uses. The image is being used throughout the store as well as on various marketing items. Gail continues "In addition, SOGO supplied me with music and commissioned me to film the various aspects of making the image, through all the stages of the process. This film is being shown on 46” TV screens throughout the store." Watch the video.

the illustration in context

The actual paper sculpture itself has been framed and shipped to Hong Kong for display in one of the department store windows.

the framed piece ready to leave London for Hong Kong