Latest posts by Martin Moodie (see all)
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- In memory of Roopa, a Mitti Café and travel retail heroine - November 23, 2025
It’s retail as art. Welcome to the beguiling world of French artist Lilian Daubisse, who has created a spellbinding shop window and (separate) stand-alone display to celebrate the opening of the Hermès boutique at Hong Kong International Airport.
The French luxury house gave Daubisse what it describes as “carte blanche” (complete freedom) to create an exceptional window display that honoured the Hermès 2016 theme of “Nature at full gallop”.
The end results are enchanting, astounding and beautiful in equal measure. Airports need showstoppers and in this display Hong Kong International has exactly that. Full gallop? This is practically supersonic.
Daubisse has worked with his favoured material – corrugated cardboard – to create a set of shop windows featuring several imaginary animals. Each has hidden horns and claws underneath a plant-like coat of fur.
A separate stand-alone glass display called ‘Hybrids’ features an elephant’s trunk made out of corrugated cardboard in a jungle-like setting.
In a recent Blog I talked about the allure of a well-designed shop window and its power to attract travellers into the store. With this execution Hermès and Lilian Daubisse have taken the concept to dizzying new heights. Never was freedom so joyfully embraced.
