Louis Vuitton Unveils 200 Trunks 200 Visionaries: The Exhibition To Celebrate Louis Vuitton’s Bicentenary Birthday

© ARR

Paying tribute to Louis’ innovative legacy, the exhibition offers a stage for these original and unique pieces created by 200 visionaries and friends of the Maison. The collective tribute to Louis Vuitton’s founder started its world tour in Asnières, near Paris, in December 2019, and will touch down for a few months in Singapore, Beijing, Tokyo, New York and London throughout 2022.

In order to mark the milestone birthday of August 4^th, the Maison invited a mosaic of talents from all walks of life to take part in the initiative, spanning arts and culture, sciences, sports, humanitarian causes, and so on. The objective? Personalize the emblematic Louis Vuitton trunk and create their own version, with abstract concepts and dreamlike expressions. Visionaries such as Jean-Michel Othoniel, Jean-Philippe Delhomme, Nigo and BTS have left their print. They all used a metaphorical blank canvas measuring 50 x 50 x 100 centimeters, approximately the dimensions of the original trunk that Louis designed in the 1850s, and left their imagination take over.  Faye McLeod, Louis Vuitton’s Visual Image Director, says “this project has always been about creativity, a real tribute to Louis’ ingenuity and entrepreneurial spirit. We get to see how such a cross-section of talents answered the same brief while also taking a moment to appreciate the man himself.”

The LV200 project remains a fully philanthropic undertaking. Indeed, the artists have directed all of their fees to 15 NGOs across 13 countries, selected for their focus on uplifting young people through their creative endeavors. Two million euros have been raised. In addition, at the end of the exhibition, all 200 trunks and derivatives will be sold under auction by Sotheby’s in December 2022. All proceeds will go directly to a scholarship program to bridge inequality gaps, throughout different creative fields, with the aim of ensuring access to artistic studies and skills development, regardless of the students’ financial resources.

However, before the December 2022 auction, visitors from all around the world will be able to come and rejoice the collective work of these visionaries, who have all received “carte blanche” to create a unique concept. Indeed, before the opening, the trunks were digitally displayed in video loops in Louis Vuitton stores; a little taste of what was to come. Then, the physical exhibition has finally opened in the historic family home of Louis Vuitton, in Asnières, near Paris.

Upon arrival, visitors are guided up the stairs to the first floor, from which they can admire the exceptional architecture of the house from the 19^th century—a genuine link between the past and the present. Then, in a second room, visitors are sent in the future. Trunks are staggered at various heights as random configurations, and stacked upon real crates which will be used to carry the trunks each time the exhibition travels. Amidst this diverse panorama, there is Monsieur Louis, the robot-trunk, a futuristic transfiguration, displaying digital pieces. Visitors are then taken downstairs where the display continues, as a dreamscape punctuated by very vivid colors. Objects and animations are surrounded by immersive spaces: video interviews, books, and secret music room with a jukebox trunk, designed by the British music producer and DJ, Benji B.

Throughout the exhibition, visitors are taken to a thoroughly designed journey: connecting with Louis’ history, by paying him tribute, and presenting a unique visual experience. After this first stop in Paris, the exhibition will head to New York in February, and onward to other destinations every few months.