The French maison’s bespoke trunks, exotic handbags and Objets Nomades furniture designs take pride of place in an immersive new exhibition
Words by ELIZABETH VARNELL
Louis Vuitton is revisiting its roots with a new Los Angeles installation centered around the custom craftsmanship of flat-topped hard-sided trunks, the design innovation that initially launched the maison as a creative force. Three rooms, open by appointment through September 25, highlight the French house’s heritage — an homage to its founder’s bicentennial birthday — while also foregrounding its future. Throughout the spaces, Objets Nomades furniture and decor, including designs by Damien Langlois-Meurinne and Tokujin Yoshioka debuting in new colors, join such classic bags as Capucines, Keepalls and Sac Plats.
An immersive seascape, complete with a lifeguard tower and sand dunes, is set with a surfboard colored in Alex Israel’s signature iridescent hues, one part of a collaboration with the L.A.-based artist known for his depictions of vibrant coastal skies. A second room, complete with an artist painting customized images onto trunks, evokes a workshop filled with one-of requests for luggage to transport everything from a set of sunglasses or watches to a haul of sneakers to a bottle of champagne and accompanying flutes. A trunk entirely dedicated to afternoon tea is sure to tempt even the staunchest coffee devotees. In a third space made up as a Parisian apartment, sequin-stitched gowns by Nicolas Ghesquière, artistic director of the house’s women’s collections, refract chandelier light beside gleaming high jewelry and newly launched cases and hat boxes made in collaboration with Fornasetti.
Jennifer Meyer, Erin Foster, Kelly Sawyer, Jamie Mizrahi, David Katzenberg, Brigette Romanek, Carlos Lopez and Claire Holt all joined Israel and other friends of the house for cocktails at the exhibition opening. Inside, the seascape’s ocean backdrop ran on a 14-hour loop filmed in real time in Malibu, complete with dolphins and even glimpses of surfers in the distance. A picnic case set atop the dunes beckoned as the on-screen horizon hues darkened to a deeper azure. By appointment only. Installed at Goya Studios, 1541 N. Cahuenga Blvd., L.A., 323-230-9005.
September 17, 2021
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