At Peter Lai’s Japanese Cultural Village, Lai’s belongings are meticulously organized by color, texture or provenance, and arranged as living art, each telling a piece of his story.
When Peter Lai opens the door to his Arts District loft, he’s wearing high-waisted teal slacks, a seafoam mesh top printed with a dragon, a bright blue cap and cornflower acetate glasses. “The tour is one hour,” he explains, but I’m already lost in the explosion of color and texture, not only in Lai’s outfit but in the eclectic expanse behind him.
Lai’s story has always been one of maximalism. He was born already immersed in drama, the son of a Hong Kong family that made their living producing elaborate period costumes for television and film. Lai was the only child of seven who worked in the family business, learning the trade at just 12 years old. The rules around ornate Ming and Qing Dynasty uniforms, textiles and patterns were intense but he took to it naturally.
He later moved the store to San Marino, and says clients continued to come to him there for the same reason they always did. “My clothes were for something different. To stand out. Never boring.” he says. The store marked a major moment in Lai’s life, where, after everything he’d gone through — all the time, risk and hustling — he felt like he’d finally made it. He enjoyed that feeling for over two decades.
So while some might find his way of living claustrophobic, for Lai it’s freedom. “For me, it’s living in a fantasy, a dream,” he says. “I work so hard to make my dream come true. Now I treasure it, because life like that is hard to find, hard to get.”AdvertisementAnd like a dream, the line between home and art is blurred. A low table surrounded by hutches full of antique Japanese tea sets and rice bowls is set for lunch, but only withmodels of food often used by Japanese restaurants.
In a space where everything — even the bed he sleeps in — is inspiration, Lai feels free to finally play for his own pleasure. But this doesn’t mean he’s slowing down. Lai still wears his garments on the party circuit, though he now limits his parties to two a night, max. He began studying kabuki dance with renowned teacher Madame Fujima Kansuma when he was 50, and he still attends class on Saturdays.
Australia Latest News, Australia Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
The Charming Bloke Who Dominates GeoGuessrGeoGuessr, a game that drops you at a random place in Google Street View and challenges you to guess where you are, has been made popular by the viral phenomenon of streamers narrating their guesses and strategies.
Read more »
Dennis Rodman Planning Trip to Russia to Seek Brittney Griner ReleaseThe NBA icon says he's headed to Russia to try and free the imprisoned WNBA star.
Read more »
The Paradox of Rejecting Uncomfortable EmotionsRejecting emotions that don't make you feel good is likely to cause you more pain in the long run. There's a better way, explains DrHollyParker
Read more »
Shop the Best 2022 Back-to-School Sales to Save Major Coins on Everything You NeedIncluding clothing, beauty, dorm room decor, and tech.
Read more »
Genesis X Speedium Coupe Concept Shows Its Minimalist Interior | CarscoopsGenesis X Speedium Coupe Concept Shows Its Minimalist Interior | Carscoops carscoops
Read more »
Tara Grinstead murder: Did authorities miss leads that could have potentially solved the case over a decade ago?Teacher and former beauty queen disappeared in October 2005.
Read more »