The iconic house of Christian Dior commissioned a spate of fine art photographs from Beijing-based fashion photographer Quentin Shih that have been shown to major acclaim in Asia.

But the exhibit’s first stop in the U.S. will be at…a mall. But not just any mall, mind you — SoCal’s crown retail jewel, South Coast Plaza.

On view Oct. 14 through Nov. 7, “Christian Dior Presents Photographs by Quentin Shih,” is part of a festival on Chinese culture, “Ancient Paths, Modern Voices: A Festival Celebrating Chinese Culture,” organized by New York’s Carnegie Hall and taking place at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts (everything but the photo show, which will — seriously — be housed inside the mall.)

To create the digital composites of models dressed in Dior inhabiting less-than-habitable Chinese landscapes, Shih photographed models during Dior’s Winter 2008 haute couture fashion show in Paris, then combined the two elements. To stunning effects.

Photo: One of Quentin Shih’s Dior composites, courtesy of South Coast Plaza.