November 21st, 2025 — November 23rd, 2025
CARVED LIPSTICKS
Dries Van Noten is pleased to host a special in-store presentation celebrating the work of Hong Kong-based artist May Sum at the London Flagship Store.
On view from 21st to 23rd November at the London flagship store, the showcase highlights a curated selection of carved lipsticks created exclusively.
Blending beauty with fine craftsmanship, each piece reimagines the lipstick as a sculptural object, tactile and entirely unique.
"To me, lipsticks are like miniature exhibition halls," says May Sum. "Their cases reminded me of luxurious galleries and my creations within them become mobile galleries of art."
This collaboration explores the intersection of gesture and texture, transforming everyday objects into artistic expressions.
CAN YOU INTRODUCE YOURSELF AND TELL US WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO START CARVING LIPSTICKS?
I am an artist and also a makeup artist, which means I am familiar to cosmetics product and texture, and my creations have always been diverse and mutually influential. One day, I thought about turning cosmetics into my art. So, I began experimenting with different makeup products to see which ones could be carved.
Eventually, I discovered that lipstick works better. Moreover, carving lipstick is quite challenging, and as someone who loves challenges, I found it to be the perfect medium.
WHO OR WHAT INFLUENCES YOUR ARTISTIC STYLE THE MOST?
My style always keep changing. However, I deeply admire the bold ideas of fashion designers with an unwavering commitment to art. The visual impact of their works has always
influenced me.
For me, creating pieces that leave a strong impression at first glance, evoking an emotional or visual response in the audience, is incredibly important. This kind of attraction allows people to pause and delve into the story within, making what I wish to express even more profound.
CAN YOU WALK US THROUGH YOUR PROCESS?
I use needles for carving since only needles are fine enough to handle the details. It usually takes me around 2-3 hours to sculpt a single lipstick, and a large portion of the time is spent cooling the lipstick.
Step 1 : First, I draw a rough draft on the lipstick.
Step 2 : Then, I roughly carve out the general shape.
Step 3 : Next, I refine every part, focusing on the details. After carving for around 5 minutes, if the lipstick starts feeling a bit too soft, I have to pause and let it cool down. This usually takes around 10-15 minutes before I can continue.
Step 4 : Once the sculpture is finished, I typically revisit it the next day to evaluate it and add more details if needed.
WHAT DO YOU FIND TO BE THE MOST CHALLENGING ASPECT?
I enjoy taking on challenging tasks, and the most difficult part is when the texture is too soft. Sometimes, I want to create something very delicate, but if I make a mistake, the effort
for that day is ruined. That’s the unfortunate part because I truly want to make everything as detailed as possible.
WHAT EXCITES YOU ABOUT THIS COLLABORATION WITH THE BRAND, AND HOW DO YOU FEEL YOUR ART COMPLEMENTS DRIES VAN NOTEN IDENTITY?
My first encounter with Dries Van Noten was the realization of how beautiful its products are. I’ve always loved bold contrasts in colors and design, and the very appearance of DVN’s products feels like an art piece—that’s what captivated me.
Collaborating with DVN is, without a doubt, exciting. It feels like every product carries a thought, an idea to express—like the color combinations and patterns on the lipstick packaging, they must tell a story, don’t they?
Artworks
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