How Hong Kong diva Karen Mok is on top of her game at 54: from featuring on audio guides of a French fashion exhibit at the Palace Museum to starring in a new film with Andy Lau – interview

Jul 14 , 2024

Hong Kong diva Karen Mok’s voice will guide visitors through a French fashion exhibit at the Hong Kong Palace Museum. Photos: Hong Kong Palace Museum

Mok’s captivating narration in 3 languages brings ‘The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris’ exhibit to life at the Hong Kong Palace Museum

After 3 decades in showbiz, the singer-actress recalls a memorable fashion moment at university wearing a mini version of her mum’s qipao – and speaks about how she’s proud of her Hong Kong heritage

Perhaps the closest thing Hong Kong has to modern-day royalty is legendary singer and actress Karen Mok, who just celebrated 30 years in show business back in 2023. From being the first Hong Kong singer to win the prestigious Golden Melody Award three times to becoming the first-ever female solo artist to perform a concert at Beijing’s National Stadium, the Bird’s Nest, Mok is no stranger to racking up accolades and representing her beloved hometown on the international stage.

Hong Kong’s gem, singer and actress Karen Mok, still looks stunning after three decades in showbiz

All signs pointed to her being the ideal voice guiding audiences through the Hong Kong Palace Museum’s latest exhibit, “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” on display through October 14.

Encompassing nearly 400 fashion artefacts worn by French royals, aristocrats and socialites across two centuries, the exhibit befits Mok’s royal status here in Hong Kong; even so, this latest venture voicing the exhibit’s trilingual audio guide marked yet another significant and deeply personal new milestone for the star.

Hong Kong Palace Museum’s latest exhibit, “The Adorned Body: French Fashion and Jewellery 1770-1910 from the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris” is on display through October 14

“I love fashion – I quickly said yes when I got the invitation to do the audio guide,” she said ahead of the exhibition opening. “I haven’t done this before, and of course, [as] an invitation from the Palace Museum, it’s a huge honour. Being an artist, I am so glad to see important institutes providing a platform for the public to experience both Chinese and Western art under one roof.”

Launched in partnership with the Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, home to France’s foremost national fashion collection, this exhibition marks the first time many of these pieces have been seen not only in Asia, but outside Paris. And as one of four major exhibitions in the West Kowloon Cultural District celebrating 60 years of diplomatic relations between China and France this year, it might just be one of Mok’s most important and impactful cultural milestones yet.

Multilingual Karen Mok records audio guide in three languages: Cantonese, Mandarin and English

“I know [MAD Paris] by reputation as home to one of the best collections of fashion and jewellery in the world,” says Mok, who describes her visit to the museum as an impressive, “dazzling” experience. As a student of European culture – and ancestry – having studied in the UK and learned French, Italian and German along the way, it’s no surprise that the actress brings a wealth of knowledge to the “Adorned Body” exhibit, imbuing the audio guide with the personal experience and knowledge needed to translate the nuances of fashion history across three different languages.

Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Paris, is home to France’s foremost national fashion collection

Facilitating cultural exchange is nothing new to Mok, however, who has spent her three decades in show business shaping trends in both entertainment and fashion, pushing the boundaries of her craft with bold, energetic concerts and costumes to match, her outfits becoming a key highlight of her performances.