This article was published on February 10 and updated on February 18
Haven't heard of Prada Mode before? Join the club — or not. The ultra-exclusive, VIP-only social event only occurs infrequently, offering insiders a chance to attend special talks and experience immersive installations over the course of a couple luxurious days.
Having already taken London and Miami, Prada Mode returned to America for only the second time, popping up in Los Angeles from February 16-17 and leading neatly into Frieze LA.
Artist Martine Syms was brought on board to create an immersive installation within Fairfax's Genghis Cohen, where artists held talks and several DJs will spun late into the night.
The venerable Genghis Cohen was Prada Mode's venue of choice, with guests including Junglepussy, Aleali May, Aimee Song, and Zack Bia, noshing on the longstanding restaurant's crackerjack shrimp and Queen Chicken (a homemade spin on General Tso's).
Syms transformed Genghis Cohen with a work dubbed HelLa World which, going off the promotional imagery, presumably involves wilted blooms of some kind.
Having recently lensed Prada's Linea Rossa Spring/Summer 2021 collection, Syms is a Prada vet by now.
Her practice encompasses everything from collage to experiential video — I saw 'Loot Sweets' at Bridget Donahue last year and was taken by the deceivingly concise exhibit's far-reaching scale.
Us mere mortals aren't going to be experiencing Syms' latest at Prada Mode LA but, assuming we were to reach the rarefied status of Prada VIP, what else would we enjoy during the two day event?
Well, Prada promises members conversations with artists Syms, Diamond Stingily, and Garrett Bradley, led by curator Erin Christovale, a performance from Sudan Archives, late night DJ sets from Kyle Hall, Femi and Acyde, and, presumably, some delicious Chinese food.
