FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 5, 2017

Gaetano Pesce, Palladio Cabinet, 2007. Photo by Jeff Elstone

ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELEBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE

Curated by Salon 94 Design

CHICAGO - The Peninsula Chicago presents an exclusive art exhibition with works created by impresario artist, architect and designer Gaetano Pesce. Curated by Salon 94 Design, the exhibition entitled, “What it is to be Human,” aligns with the sixth annual EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary & Modern Art, taking place at Navy Pier, September 13 to 17, 2017, as well as the Chicago Architecture Biennial September 16, 2017 to January 7, 2018. The collection is open to the public and will be displayed throughout the hotel on the ground level lobby and the 5th floor main lobby level from September 11 to October 9, 2017. -more- ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 2

This exhibit is the latest project from The Peninsula Hotels’ ongoing commitment to present rotating art exhibitions of world-class contemporary art for the hotels’ public spaces.

About the Exhibition In Pesce’s work, he expresses his guiding principle: that modernism is less a style than a method for interpreting the present and hinting at the future in which individuality is preserved and celebrated. Pesce’s experience has been global and his innovations consistently groundbreaking. Boundaries between art, design and industry are irrelevant to him, as art is most certainly not something created and put on a pedestal; he believes art is a product, and that it is our creative response to the needs of the time we live in, is a part of his philosophy.

The exhibit entitled, “What it is to be Human,” takes the same name as a recent chandelier Gaetano designed. His art connects with humanity, showcasing joy and human elements in each piece. The exhibit features 20 pieces of Gaetano’s functional and decorative designs, including two large cabinets: Ritratto dell’ Uomo Centento Cabinet, 2016; and Palladio Cabinet, 2007; two versions of Rug Wall Lamp, 2017; and Friend Lamp, 2014; one chandelier: What it is to be human chandelier, 2012; one table: Lake Table, 2012; two resin pieces entitled Ricordo della Gamba Sinistra (Skin), 2015; and Ritratto di quello che non guarda…o almeno così sembra (Skin), 2015; a selection of Tree Vases, 2015-2017; and finally Series UP 2000 5&6 – ‘Donna’ chair which was designed in 1969, and is on loan from Luminaire, Chicago—the items that form it include the armchair and pouf ottoman—an icon of modernity, a metaphor of the female figure that is comfortably endowed and whimsically comes with its own ball and chain. This exhibit is especially relevant given the alignment of EXPO CHICAGO, September 13 to 17, 2017 and the Chicago Architecture Biennial taking place September 16, 2017 to January 7, 2018. His objects will be displayed throughout the hotel from September 11, to October 9, 2017, as a part of a public art project. The pieces are available for purchase. -more- ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 3

Maria Razumich-Zec, Regional Vice President and General Manager of The Peninsula Chicago says, “We are delighted that Mr. Pesce will showcase a wonderful selection of his work at The Peninsula Chicago. Known for celebrating thoughtful art within the hotel, we believe it is our honor to continue to display works that provoke thought, emotion and dialogue. The pieces selected by Salon 94 Design should accomplish this feat. We hope this collaboration will further elevate the perception of Chicago as a pillar among the world’s art community.”

“We are extremely grateful for our extensive partnership with The Peninsula Chicago as both our Official Hotel Sponsor and for their ongoing commitment to presenting international contemporary artworks to align with our exposition,” said EXPO CHICAGO President | Director Tony Karman. “Gaetano Pesce is an internationally respected artist and the work featured at The Peninsula Chicago is a not-to-be-missed exhibition.”

"The work of visionary and iconic designer Gaetano Pesce, on view at The Peninsula Chicago, highlights Salon 94 Design’s focus on radical design, and those voices that resist convention. Gaetano has enjoyed a 50-year long career centered around a hands-on studio practice, experimenting with new materials and technologies. Since the 1980s, Pesce has exploited the technical qualities of resins, polyurethanes and silicones to create signature pliable, corporeal, and organic design. Featured here are his hand made papier-mâche and resin tree vases, recalling the beloved Tuscan landscape of his youth, alongside his explosive new sculptural resin sconces," said Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, owner of Salon 94 Design.

Artist Statement "For a long time, I have been using a multidisciplinary approach to express myself. The great artists of the Italian Renaissance have influenced me tremendously - Orcagna, Mantegna, Brunelleschi, Alberti, Raffaello, Michelangelo, and the great Da Vinci. These creative pioneers weren't satisfied with just one medium, but continuously sought varied forms of expression. -more- ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 4

This context and history is vital to how I approach my work. I believe that every idea has its most effective form of expression. Some ideas are better represented through architecture, some painting, others through performance, film, music or poetry. It is increasingly apparent that a multidisciplinary approach is the best way to address the complexity of our time." - Gaetano Pesce

The Peninsula Hotels Support Public Art Initiatives The Peninsula Hotels continues its ongoing support of innovative public art around the world, by partnering with art museums, galleries and private collectors to enable guests to enjoy pioneering works by established masters and emerging artists. Each hotel has committed to supporting the arts, including a pioneering partnership with The Peninsula Hong Kong and the UK’s Royal Academy of Arts, an Artist in Residence program for emerging contemporary artists at The Peninsula Beijing, and a rotating collection of contemporary artwork on display at The Peninsula New York and art-related Peninsula Academy programs in each hotel. This is the third year The Peninsula Chicago has presented an art installation in conjunction with EXPO CHICAGO. The hotel’s partnership with Salon 94 Design is a natural extension of The Peninsula Hotels’ wildly successful art initiatives around the world.

About Gaetano Pesce During his career, that spans four decades with commissions in architecture, urban planning, interior, exhibition and industrial design, Gaetano Pesce, the architect and designer, has conceived public and private projects in the United States, Europe, Latin American and Asia.

Born in La Spezia, Italy, in 1939, Pesce studied Architecture at the University of Venice between 1958 to 1963 and was a participant in Gruppo N, an early collective concerned with programmed art patterned after the Bauhaus.

He taught architecture at the Institut d’Architecture et d’Etudes Urbaines in Strasbourg, France, for 28 years, at the Carnegie Mellon in Pittsburgh, at the Domus Academy in Milan, at the Polytechnic of Hong Kong, at the Architectural School of Sao Paulo and at the Cooper Union in -more- ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 5

New York City, where he has made his home since 1980, after living in Venice, London, Helsinki and Paris.

Pesce’s work is featured in more than 30 permanent collections of the most important museums in the world, such as MoMa of New York and San Francisco, Metropolitan Museum in New York, Vitra Museum in Germany, Victoria and Albert Museum in London, Pompidou Center and Musee des Arts Decoratifs of Louvre in Paris; he exhibits art in galleries worldwide. His award- winning designs include the prestigious Chrysler Award for innovation and Design in 1993, the Architektur and Wohnen Designer of the Year in 2006 and the Lawrence J. Israel Prize from the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York in 2009.

About Salon 94 Design Salon 94 Design debuted in 2017 as an extension of Salon 94, devoted to furniture, design and objects. The venture is run by Jeanne Greenberg Rohatyn, founder of Salon 94, with Paul Johnson, of Johnson Trading Gallery. Salon 94 Design is a natural outgrowth of Greenberg Rohatyn's attitude that objects, beyond their functionality, express our values, ideas, philosophy, and history. For the past decade, the gallery in her home on East 94th Street has offered a test ground to seamlessly and casually show furniture and objects alongside art. Salon 94 Design represents Anton Alvarez, Kueng Caputo, Jack Craig, Dozie Kanu, Max Lamb, Kwangho Lee, Jay Sae Jung Oh, Rick Owens, and Gaetano Pesce, among others. The new venture will stage a number of exhibitions each year at Salon 94’s three New York gallery locations and pop-up sites, and will participate in international design fairs including Design Miami/ and Design Miami/ Basel.

About EXPO CHICAGO EXPO CHICAGO/2017, The International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, is presented by Art Expositions, LLC at Navy Pier’s Festival Hall, hosting more than 135 leading International exhibitors presented alongside one of the highest quality platforms for global contemporary art and culture. Now in its sixth year as a leading international art fair, EXPO CHICAGO (September 13–17, 2017) offers diverse programming including /Dialogues, IN/SITU, IN/SITU Outside, EXPO VIDEO, the Curatorial Forum, the Art Critics Forum, Special Exhibitions, EXPO Sound and OVERRIDE | A Billboard Project. In addition, EXPO CHICAGO continues to publish THE SEEN, Chicago's International Journal of Contemporary & Modern Art. Under the leadership of President and Director Tony Karman, EXPO CHICAGO draws upon the city’s rich history as a vibrant international cultural destination, while highlighting -more- ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 6 the region’s contemporary arts community and inspiring its collector base. In 2017, EXPO CHICAGO and the Chicago Architecture Biennial (September 16–January 7, 2018) will align, establishing the city as a preeminent destination for global contemporary art and architecture, intersecting across a wide variety of programs including panels, international residencies, exhibitions and citywide events. In addition, EXPO CHICAGO partners with the Palais de Tokyo in Paris for its first U.S. satellite exhibition to kick off EXPO CHICAGO (September 12) at the Roundhouse at the DuSable Museum of African American History.

Vernissage, the opening night preview benefiting the Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, takes place Wednesday, Sept 13, 6–9 p.m. General Admission to the exposition is Thursday, Sept. 14–Sunday, Sept. 17 (for hours please visit expochicago.com). Tickets to the exposition went on sale in June 2017. Northern Trust is the Presenting Sponsor of EXPO CHICAGO. For more information about EXPO CHICAGO and EXPO ART WEEK (Monday, Sept. 11– Sunday, Sept. 17), visit expochicago.com.

About the 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial

The 2017 Chicago Architecture Biennial will be free and open to the public September 16, 2017-January 7, 2018 and will align with the sixth annual EXPO CHICAGO, the International Exposition of Contemporary and Modern Art, September 13–17, at Navy Pier. The hub of the 2017 Biennial will once again be the Chicago Cultural Center and will provide a platform for groundbreaking architectural projects and spatial experiments that demonstrate how creativity and innovation can radically transform our lived experience under this year’s theme, “Make New History.”

The 2017 Biennial is presented in partnership with the City of Chicago’s Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events and funded through private donations with lead support from SC Johnson, Presenting Sponsor; BP, Founding Sponsor; Marriott, Hotel Sponsor; and philanthropic support from The Richard H. Driehaus Foundation, The Chicago Community Trust, National Endowment for the Arts, and the Robert R. McCormick Foundation. The Chicago Architecture Foundation is the Biennial’s Signature Education Sponsor. For more information, please visit www.chicagoarchitecturebiennial.org.

About The Peninsula Chicago The Peninsula Chicago is a Five Star, Five Diamond hotel located on the “Magnificent Mile” at 108 East Superior Street (at Michigan Avenue), within the city’s premier shopping district. The 339-guest room hotel recently completed an extensive renovation of guestrooms and suites. The hotel opened in 2001 and features three distinctive restaurants, a popular bar and a world-class spa. For information on The Peninsula Chicago, please visit www.peninsula.com/chicago or call +1 (312) 337 2888 or toll-free at +1 (866) 288 8889. -more-

ALIGNING WITH EXPO CHICAGO, THE PENINSULA CHICAGO ANNOUNCES AN EXHIBITION CELBRATING ARTIST, ARCHITECT AND DESIGNER GAETANO PESCE – 7

About The Hongkong and Shanghai Hotels, Limited (HSH) Incorporated in 1866 and listed on The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong (00045), HSH is the holding company of a Group which is engaged in the ownership, development and management of prestigious hotel, commercial and residential properties in key locations in Asia, the United States and Europe, as well as the provision of transport, club management and other services. The Peninsula Hotels portfolio comprises The Peninsula Hong Kong, The Peninsula Shanghai, The Peninsula Beijing, The Peninsula Tokyo, The Peninsula New York, The Peninsula Chicago, The Peninsula Beverly Hills, The Peninsula Paris, The Peninsula Bangkok, and The Peninsula Manila. Projects under development include The Peninsula Istanbul, The Peninsula London and The Peninsula Yangon. The property portfolio of the Group includes The Repulse Bay Complex, The Peak Tower and St. John's Building in Hong Kong; The Landmarlk in Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam; 1 -5 Grosvenor Place in London, UK and 21 avenue Kleber in Paris, France. The clubs and services portfolio of the Group includes The Peak Tram in Hong Kong; Thai Country Club in Bangkok, Thailand; Quail Lodge & Golf Club in Carmel, California; Peninsula Clubs and Consultancy Services, Peninsula Merchandising, and Tai Pan Laundry in Hong Kong.

For further information, please contact: Ms Susan Ellefson Director of Public Relations The Peninsula Chicago 108 East Superior Street Chicago, IL 60611 Telephone: +1 (312) 573 6616 Fax: +1 (312) 573 6612 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.peninsula.com/chicago News Room: www.peninsula.com/chicago_newsroom Facebook: www.facebook.com/ThePeninsulaChicago Twitter: @ThePeninsulaChi Instagram: @ThePeninsulaChi Visit The Peninsula Hotels’ News Room on www.peninsula.com/newsroom – press releases, images, broadcast quality video, YouTube, Facebook, Twitter and more.