LOUIS VUITTON VOYAGES AT THE NATIONAL MUSEUM OF CHINA

The National Museum of China invites us on a journey back to the 19^th Century to relive the exploits of those who created the legend that is the Maison of Louis Vuitton.

Text by Lucy Mclean

Visitors are welcomed into the Museum by artist Zhan Wang’s work entitled ‘The Beginning’. His abstract images tell a story of a voyage through time, exploring the processes and formation of origin and order within space. Nature is viewed in an alternative light as Wang reveals the trajectory of small rocks at an explosion scene and uncovers the inner workings of such journeys and adaptations through time and space.

With a clear and inspired mind, following on from this theme of origin and travel, you are then guided onwards through the Museum into the Louis Vuitton Voyages. Beginning with the establishment of the fashion Maison in 1854, this exhibition delves into the past of the Louis Vuitton brand, revealing the inspirations, desires and developments of its profound legacy through time. The exhibition space in the stunning National Museum of China has been transformed into a magical world of 19^th Century creation and vision.

A complete variation of LV trunks and bags, as well as the infamous “Louis Vuitton Wardrobe” trunks – first decorated with the ultimate symbol for travellers, a penguin, by reputed stage designer Bob Wilson – are on display in translucent baskets hanging below an impressive array of huge ornamental hot air balloons. The space conjures up images of mechanical transport revolutions, recalling how the visionary founder himself, Louis Vuitton, became involved in the development of flying machines and used these inventions as direct inspiration for his multi-purpose travelling cases.

The traditional trunks were made from coated canvas with top quality craftsmanship, displaying a whole array of artistic inspirations. Throughout time the LV label continued to remain at the forefront of fashion innovation, launching reinterpretations of the legendary motif in 1996 by such prominent designers as Azzedina Alaia, Vivienne Westwood, Manolo Blahnik, Helmut Lang, Romeo Gigli and Isaac Mizrahi. The exhibition follows the development of the brands key pieces, from early luxury travellers trunks to the smaller printed leather handbags we know and love today, whilst highlighting the brands ability to retain its image of extravagance and luxury, along with the illustrious selection of celebrity clients it has kept since its beginning.

The exhibition’s Digital Room provides a new grasp on the Vuitton story, translating scenery, from the infamous shop on rue Scribe to the façades of the Maison on the Champs-Elysées, through a virtual journey on the big screen.

Louis Vuitton opened its first store in China in 1992 at Beijing’s Peninsula Hotel, seen as a daring move during a time when there was little demand for luxury products and a distinct lack of privilege. However, it can be seen that through China’s love and heritage of refined beauty, the brand was able to flourish, inspiring the people with the mere vision of luxury. The Voyages exhibition acts as a prelude of the 20^th Anniversary of Louis Vuitton in China, which now maintains stores all across the continent providing luxury experiences through their excellent store designs and bold savoir-faire.

Louis Vuitton Voyages will show until the 30th August 2011 at the National Museum of China, Tian’anMen Square, Beijing.