Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton revisits its history as a trunk maker in an ode to the love of fine craftsmanship and Japan, envisioned with Japanese architect Shohei Shigematsu-OMA.

The first room is a library of craft, to not only preserve and share the history and “know-how” behind the artistry, but also immediately convey its diversity. Around the joined hands of Rodin's sculpture The Cathedral, « the hands that unify », 84 Wardrobe trunks, the defining creation of Louis Vuitton’s origins that has continued to evolve since its founding, are stacked floor-to-ceiling in an infinite array wrapping the room. The precise gesture of the artisans is celebrated within each trunk: open to reveal various interior configurations while preserving the secret of exceptional craftsmanship, these iconic pieces in Monogram canvas were adapted to display videos showcasing the making of hard- and soft-sided items, Rare and Exceptional bepsoke and shoes, jewellery, watches and perfumes. Illuminated from within, the stacks fill the room with warm light like a lantern, while a gradient of openness, with trunks wide open toward the entry and gradually more closed as visitors move through the space, create a subtle transition from light to the night of the next room. Apulsation, like a beating heart, unfolds to the rhythm of characteristic sounds from the Asnières atelier reinterpreted by IRCAM, adding a contemporary layer to the installation.  

In contrast, the second room is a contemporary and performative environment dedicated to the spirit of voyage. 90 Courrier Lozinetrunks are assembled into a giant sphere – reinterpreting a familiar icon of World Expos, from the “Globe Céleste” of Paris Exposition 1900 to the “Spherical Concert Hall” of 1970 World Expo in Osaka. The 6.6-meter diameter, 13-ton globe is composed of white Monogram trunks, providing blank canvas for a video installation by Japanese artist Daito Manabe. Infilling the double-height space, the globe is motorized, spinning while moving up and down, synced to the immersive artwork. 

The whole display is a rhythm of contrast and convergence, offering two lenses through which to experience the singular spirit of savoir-faire and the dynamism generated by looking back and forward at once. A phantasmagorical interpretation of Travel, so dear to Louis Vuitton.

About Shohei Shigematsu

Shohei Shigematsu is a Partner at OMA and Director of OMA New York. His fashion engagements span multiple typologies and scales, from retail to scenography. His recent works in the retail realm include installations for Louis Vuitton 57th Street NYC and the renovation of Tiffany Landmark in New York. He is currently overseeing the construction of Harajuku Quest, a new cultural and retail hub connecting Omotesando and Harajuku in Tokyo. Shigematsu has worked with fashion brands and museums on major exhibitions – scenography for Louis Vuitton Visionary Journeys in Bangkok, Thailand; retrospectives for Christian Dior in Denver, Dallas, and Tokyo; Prada Waist Down in Tokyo, Seoul, New York, and Los Angeles; and Manus x Machina at the Met Costume Institute. In the arts, Shigematsu’s has designed buildings for museums including AKG Art Museum in Buffalo, New York, Pierre Lassonde Pavilion for MNBAQ in Canada, and the New Museum expansion in New York City currently under construction. He has completed several cultural venues such as Faena Forum in Miami, Audrey Irmas Pavilion in Los Angeles, and has also collaborated with various artists including Marina Abramovic, Cai Guo-Qiang, and Taryn Simon.

About Daito Manabe

Born in Tokyo in 1976, Daito Manabe grew up immersed in music and programming under musician parents. After experiences as a DJ and jazz band member, while studying at Tokyo University of Science, he was influenced by Xenakis and began researching mathematical approaches to music generation, which became the foundation for his later creative work.

In 2006, he founded Rhizomatiks, exploring the fusion of technology and physical expression through collaborations with Perfume and ELEVENPLAY alongside director/choreographer MIKIKO, leading to innovative projects including AR direction for the Rio Olympics closing ceremony. He has collaborated with numerous artists including Ryuichi Sakamoto, Björk, Nosaj Thing, Squarepusher and Arca, with his distinctive Audio Visualperformances presented at international festivals worldwide, including Sonar Barcelona. Recently, through collaboration with neuroscientists, he creates works merging life and machinery using biofeedback systems with cultured neural cells. Currently heading Studio Daito Manabe, he pursues expressions that cross art, technology, and science.