The 2024 edition of Art Basel Paris made a lasting impression, confirming its role as an essential global platform for art, as well as fashion and design, a true melting pot of talent and innovation at the crossroads of disciplines. Here's a spotlight on four events that captured the attention of both enthusiasts and professionals.
LOUIS VUITTON X FRANK GEHRY
Louis Vuitton's long-standing collaboration with Frank Gehry was celebrated in an exceptional exhibition at Art Basel Paris. For the third consecutive year, the luxury brand was an associate partner of this flagship event, choosing to highlight its more than twenty-year partnership with the architect. Brilliant in its sophistication and artistic vision, the exhibition, located on the Grand Palais's balcony, offered an immersive experience into Gehry's creative universe, who co-designed the event's scenography.
The centerpiece of the exhibition was an imposing yet delicate installation of a white fish, suspended from the top of the grand staircase. This work echoed the architect's signature iconography, characterized by its airy and dynamic qualities. The fish, with its fluid and elegant lines, symbolized the interplay of strength and flexibility, a fundamental principle in Gehry's work, also reflected in his architectural constructions. The sculpture was surmounted by a large wooden arch, evoking the influence of Japanese art, particularly washi paper, which has inspired many of the master's creations.
The exhibition also revisited the landmark projects that marked this collaboration, such as the iconic Louis Vuitton Foundation building in Paris designed by Gehry, a masterpiece of contemporary architecture inaugurated in 2014. Enriched by drawings and models, the exhibition showed the importance of light, transparency and fluidity in the architect's work, elements that he has integrated into the design of other remarkable buildings, such as the Louis Vuitton house in Seoul.
The 2024 edition also provided Louis Vuitton with the opportunity to unveil an exclusive collection of bags designed by the architect. These pieces combine the iconic craftsmanship of the leather goods house with Gehry's singular aesthetic, with designs inspired by his architectural creations. Once again, Louis Vuitton reaffirms its commitment to art and innovation, a tradition begun by Gaston-Louis Vuitton, the founder's grandson, who collaborated with artists from the very beginning of the house.
LOUISVUITTON.COM
“TALES AND TELLERS” BY MIU MIU
For this latest edition of the renowned contemporary art fair, Miu Miu continued to highlight the richness of women's narratives. As an official partner of Art Basel Paris's public program, the Italian fashion house presented the "Tales & Tellers" event at the Palais d'Iéna, curated by Goshka Macuga and Elvira Dyangani Ose. This project transformed the space into a vibrant storytelling environment, featuring screenings of films from the Miu Miu Women's Tales short film series, exploring the concept of femininity, and the presentation of artworks created by artists for past Miu Miu runway shows, forging a profound connection with the audience.
The event also featured discussions and panels, allowing filmmakers and artists to share their journeys and inspirations. Accessible to all, "Tales & Tellers" offered an immersive experience, inviting visitors to interact with these powerful narratives in an intimate setting.
Since its inception, Miu Miu has been committed to exploring femininity through fashion, art, and culture, providing a platform for female creators. The brand's runway shows have evolved into veritable artistic forums, incorporating video installations to enrich the discourse on this central theme. "Tales & Tellers" exemplified this approach by bringing together diverse narratives, embodied by iconic characters portrayed by actors, to help preserve and disseminate women's memories.
MIUMIU.COM
THE WEEKDAY EXPERIENCE
The street style and lifestyle brand Weekday presented a unique art event at Art Basel Paris, held at the Consulat Voltaire, an alternative creative space housed in a former electrical substation in the 11th arrondissement. MEATRACK, an immersive installation designed by the creative collective jtf × ĒTER, explored the concepts of intimacy and extimacy through a suspended structure made from a single loop of denim. This artwork offered visitors a tactile and sensory experience, where intimacy was transformed into a public and interactive game.
Kim Holm, CEO of Weekday, emphasized that the brand's goal was to inspire new generations through creative collaborations that challenge norms. MEATRACK invited participants to explore themselves, where each could find themselves in an enclosed space while remaining visible to others.
The event also featured artistic performances, including those by La Grande Dame, and DJ sets by major figures on the Parisian scene such as Broodoo Ramsès, creating an immersive and festive atmosphere. Weekday thus successfully combined art, music, and fashion to offer a unique sensory and interactive experience.
WEEKDAY.COM
THE "PILOTIS" COLLECTION BY PUIFORCAT
Puiforcat's "Pilotis" collection, launched in October 2024, embodies absolute purity and uncompromising rigor. Comprising three candlesticks and three candelabras in solid silver, this series of six objects is distinguished by its minimalist and geometric lines, where each piece embodies perfect balance. Designed by British designers Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby, this collection draws inspiration from modernist architecture, notably the Villa Savoye, which is perched on slender stilts that elevate the structure. The collection's clean lines also evoke the legacy of Jean Puiforcat, the house's master silversmith, whose Art Deco approach is blended here with a contemporary vision of tableware. These objects, combining simplicity and perfection, highlight the flickering flame of the candles, uniting movement and stability in a play of light and stylized lines.
PUIFORCAT.COM
