1 Hour: Louis Vuitton 200 Trunks 200 Visionaries
I received an email for the Louis Vuitton 200 Years 200 Trunks Show. For Louis Vuitton’s 200th birthday 200 visionaries were given a trunk to create whatever their heart desired. This traveling exhibit made its last stop at the old Barney’s building. At the end of the exhibit the trunks will be auctioned at Sotheby’s with proceeds going to charity. Intrigued, I saw that it was: 1. In NYC & 2. free. I was already planning on going to dinner on Thursday night so, as the saying goes, “free is for me!” I made a timed online reservation and invited my dear friend Vince to come with me as he: 1. is in NYC 2. loves fashion and photography, fashion photography and, of course, me.
The scoop is that you can wait online on a velvet roped line to enter or you can wait on a potentially shorter line or no line at all if you have your timed entry. I arrived early as per usual and took the time to photograph the outdoor windows which is an exhibit unto itself. From 3:20-4:10PM (Vince was late as per usual) there was no one online so maybe we lucked out and it was not a busy day. There was still incredible people watching which is not unusual for this stretch of Madison Ave with its luxury retailers but there was a noticeable influx of the beautiful and the fashionable streaming in and out of the Louis Vuitton doors. I told Vince when he arrived he missed the tall brunette wearing a tank bra, leather micro jacket, jeans and heeled booties like a modest Julia Fox. She was so hot that there was actual steam emanating from her 8 pack. “See what you miss when you’re not on time,” I taunted him.
The next room was even more modern and cutting edge. The trunk was so cutting edge it was steel and robotic. The minimalist outer design by Willo Perron belies the complex inner workings of a future where a trunk is self-guided by AI. I know this because each room also has a guide who’s job it is to educate all the Tik-Tokers and Influencers on the trunks and not just the best angles. Also, to remind you not to touch or lean on the art.
As you leave that room you enter into an open theater where there is a video of what looks like an interview with an artist or artists. Trunks were set up as seating but I did not sit on the plywood boxes to watch as I wanted to see all of the trunks in the exhibit and I had limited time before my dinner reservation.
Click on images to learn more about the artist and work. If I can’t link to the exact artist and work than you will be linked to www.louis200.com
I happily exited from this purposely cramped space and I felt an immediate sense of relief as the darkness was getting claustrophobic. As we moved through to the escalator to the third floor we viewed Refik Anadol’s digital display. It is a trunk made of undulating waves of light that mimic fabric but are designed by data featuring Louis Vuitton monogram logos in an eye catching mix of the familiar warm browns and golds of the brand and purple reflection.
Others were spaced a little away from each other. These included fanciful works from Kate Daudy of a sheep tending to its little babies, a red and white vertical striped hot air balloon monogrammed with LOUIS and an LV trunk for a basket tagged by another NYC artist KIDSUPER and a metal globe on an iceberg by world explorer Matthieu Tordeur.
Following that musical theme was a floor to ceiling screen featuring jazz and Gorillaz drummer Femi Koleoso in a multi-sensory installation directed by Fenn O’Meally. Femi through his playing and words and Fenn through her editing and a little help from an adorable baby named Noah tell Fenn’s story: “This piece is about reminding you to connect with that inner child, explore, be curious, mess up and of course remember to PLAY." And perhaps even more fitting is that this is the last trunk of the exhibit before you head back to the beginning. In Femi’s words: “However you spread something positive or good to other people, that’s all that matters to me bruv. Everything else is decoration.” Perhaps this is a message that Louis Vuitton and all of the contributing artists have taken to heart as donations will be made to philanthropies around the world to encourage and cultivate the next generation of visionaries in arts and science in lieu of payment for these trunks.
PS - I made dinner exactly on time and had to wait for my dinner date.
Remember to LIKE Positively Styling on Facebook and FOLLOW on Instagram and Pinterest for all the latest news, insights and shopping suggestions. You can also ask me questions directly. I am here to help you in your life-style journey. That is Positively Styling!