How many really know that Louis Vuitton have been here for over 160 years? We didn’t, but we do now after having visited its exhibition “LV DREAM”. A few days ago, LVMH officially opened “LV DREAM” to all. Originally scheduled to open in November, the exhibition was postponed to 15 December 2022, which was also the day we paid our visit.
“LV DREAM” is an exhibition of Louis Vuitton’s creative evolution in the past 160 years. It shows us not only their history, there are also emblematic designs created in the hands of well-known artists of the world. In the 9 rooms of the exhibition (each room having its own theme), we got to immerse in the world of luggage and leather goods that demonstrate LV’s heritage and savoir-faire.
Room 1: Mr. Louis by Cao Fei
Room 2: Louis Vuitton: As Seen By...
Room 3: Origins
Room 4: Art on Silk
Room 5: The World of Louis Vuitton According to Rei
Room 6: Reinterpreting Icons
Room 7: Leather Goods in Fashion
Room 8: Bags as Blank Canvas
Room 9: Art Meets Fashion
THE WORLD OF TRAVEL TRUNKS
At the entry, we were immediately greeted by the digitalised version of Louis Vuitton himself. Though out of touch, we still sensed the spirit of the young Louis Vuitton trying to make a name for himself as a trunk-maker at 4 Rue Neuve-des-Capucines in Paris. His creations are what we want to focus on.
One of which is the Wardrobe Trunk in Monogram Canvas. Sold by Louis Vuitton in 1875, the trunk was designed to be placed in a traveller’s cabin and allow the traveller to access directly his clothes without the need to unfold them, hence the vertical shape. Though a bit colossal in today’s standard, this Wardrobe Trunk was very popular in conjunction with the growth of international travel in the 1910s/1920s.
There are also the Alzer Suitcases in Nomade Leather. Do you find them familiar? These suitcases have had their fair share of screen time in the film “The Darjeeling Limited”. I still remember (and was surprised) the brothers leaving these suitcases behind at the end in order to catch the train. I wouldn’t do that XD. Notice the zebras, the elephants, the rhinos, the tigers and all these wildlife animals? It is quite different from what we are used to seeing in LV, but somehow we recognise its signature on first sight. Maybe it is Louis Vuitton’s magic.
Another work of art that caught our attention was this Neverfull Night Bag. The letters E.P.L are the initials of the bag’s owner. The bag’s made of supple leather between 1892 and 1900. It was designed to be used when travelling by train. See the resemblance to today’s hand luggage?
We also have this chef-d'oeuvre Picnic Trunk in Vuittonite Canvas. This elegant Picnic Trunk, created in 1913, contains everything you need for a picnic, with specially designed compartments to protect the plates and cups and utensils.
OTHER EXCEPTIONAL ROOMS
Room 4 being the “Art on Silk”, there displays the talented works of carré de soie (silk scarf). Through the square scarfs, we got to appreciate the daring designs in the late 1980s.
Other Rooms feature 3 Japanese artists Rei Kawakubo, Takashi Murakami, and Yayoi Kusama, paying homage to their contributions to LV. On display in Room 5 is the Monogram collection created by Rei in 2014, with unimaginable shapes and holes that invite visitors to experience the inside of a bag. Room 7 showcases the Multicolore Collection created by Murakami in 2003 that once stunned the world and the trademarks of polka dots and pumpkins that Yayoi Kusama is renowned for. There are gems in the other Rooms too. You can watch them on our YouTube.
By the way, the exhibition will last until 15 November 2023. If you happen to be visiting Paris, you can also go to their site to reserve a place yourself :) Gift store, café, and a chocolate store in partnership with Cheval Blanc Paris pastry chef Maxime Frédéric will be at the end of the exhibition. Don’t miss them!
P.s. Chaumet “Végétal – L’École de la beauté” at the Beaux-Arts de Paris or this Parisian department store bought by LVMH and gone through 16 years of renovation might just interest you too :)
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