The Royal Pavilion at Brighton has been transformed into a Palace of Dragons this year, bringing one of its most distinctive decorative themes to life, running until 1 November.
The exhibition invites visitors to discover the dragons woven throughout the Regency palace – from gilded and carved creatures to fantastical beasts hidden in ornamentation.
Alongside the Pavilion experience, Fire and Water: Dreaming of Dragons explores the enduring fascination with dragons throughout European and Asian cultures.
Dragons have been part of the Pavilion’s decorative world since the Regency. Some dragons perch on chandeliers; others curl around curtain poles, emerge from painted woodwork or wait to be discovered amongst richly decorated interiors. Some draw on Chinese imagery, others reflect European interpretations, creating a distinctive dragon world shaped by the Pavilion’s cultural fusion.
For licensing partners, the extraordinary theatrical setting provides a rich and versatile source of inspiration. Dragons range from elegant and symbolic to playful and dramatic and their distinctive decorative treatment offers a multitude of design opportunities across stationery, homewares, textiles and gifts to bring the Palace of Dragons to contemporary audiences.
Want to read more news like this? Simply sign up to our daily digest by clicking here. You can also follow us on LinkedIn and on Instagram (@licensing_source).