200 CREATIVE VISIONS FOR THE LOUIS VUITTON BICENTENARY
The French trunk-maker continues to celebrate two centuries of creation, stopping off in New York for the final leg of its touring exhibition until the end of the year.
For over a year, the luxury brand has been paying tribute to the avant-garde spirit of its founder Louis Vuitton, born in 1821, with the "200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries"exhibition. Departing from Asnières-sur-Seine, the House's birthplace, the exhibition made stops in Singapore in April and Los Angeles in September, before settling in Manhattan, in the former Barneys building on Madison Avenue. This last destination is considered the most daring. Thecommemorative event has invited luminaries from the worlds of art, culture, science, sports and humanitarian causes to reinvent the iconic trunk through abstract concepts and invitations to dream. These visionaries include Marc Jacobs, Gloria Steinem, Supreme, BTS, Pat McGrath, Susan Miller, Scott Barry Kaufman, Jean-Michel Othoniel and Jean-Philippe Delhomme. Visitors are first greeted by "Monsieur Louis", transformed into a giant robot made of digital trunks; then it's all over with the original design of this revolutionary object created in 1854, which served as a blank canvas for virtuosos from the four corners of the globe to imagine the 200 trunks in the exhibition.
Visual experiences
The event takes place over four floors and features eclectic, vibrant and colorful atmospheres, including a "secret room" with the jukebox trunk, designed by DJ Benji B. In another warehouse-like space, trunks and hanging works by Zhang Ding and Mimosa Echard are juxtaposed. Elsewhere, Marc Jacobs signed the trunk covered in LV's Stephen Sprouse graffiti print in an entirely pink room. Further on, deep black corridors lead to Turkish artist Refik Anadol's "Data Fabric", a reflection on the future of the fashion industry between mirrors and digital screens. A heterogeneous panorama, open to every whim, like Robert Moy's Brooklyn Balloon Company, made of epoxy-painted balloons, Peter Marino's "Houdini trunk" locked with leather straps, or French pilot Franky Zapata's flying trunk. In the basement, a residency program called "The Residency" breathes new life into New York's creative scene, while showing how the creative team conceptualized the showcases. And finally, to quench your thirst, head for the new Freds x Louis restaurant. The LV200 project is intended to be philanthropic: the trunks on display will be auctioned off by Sotheby's in December, with proceeds going to Louis Vuitton's scholarship program for young designers.
"200 Trunks, 200 Visionaries: The Exhibition
Until December 31st
660 Madison Avenue, New York (United States)
en.louisvuitton.com/eng-magazine/articles/louis-200-exhibition#
