Beauty Fix: Alice Longyu Gao To Unveil Interactive Beauty Installation At Art Basel

by Julia Talisman

If anyone can bring Harajuku style to Miami Beach it’s DJ, creative producer, and performance artist Alice Longyu Gao. Later this week she’ll be doing just that as she unveils her brainchild, Pericura, at The Freehand Hotel during Art Basel.  

Pericura is an experiential beauty installation inspired by Japanese instant photo booths (traditionally pronounced “Purikura”). Purikura machines produce selfies you can apply extreme filters to, and then decorate with endless backdrops, text, stickers and more. Purikura may sound a lot like your favorite photo messaging app, but the machines have been around since the mid-90s.

So why create a Purikura-themed beauty installation? “People lack curiosity and refrain from pushing themselves [when it comes to style]. They’re into basic shit. I want people to be pushed to their limit and experience alternative things,” said Longyu Gao.

For the full transformation experience, guests will receive elaborate nail art looks by Mei Kawajiri using CND, and intricate braided styles courtesy of Kahh Spence x The Braid Bar. Longyu Gao worked closely with both Kawajiri and Spence to dream up designs that perfectly complement the Pericura installation. Alice herself will do the makeup.

“The installation is all pink and we are decorating everything in a Harajuku style. It feels like a wonderland. I want people who see the installation to forget about something – all the normal things they are into. I want to inspire them to consider alterative things,” said Longyu Gao.

Pericura will be on view at the Freehand Hotel from December 7th – December 9th. Appointments can be made via the Hooch app.

Here, Alice Longyu Gao models the full-on Pericura look.  

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