Louis Vuitton and Murakami honoured at Art Basel Hong Kong

After partially defining the fashion and iconic trends of the 2000s, the collaboration between Louis Vuitton and Japanese artist Takashi Murakami made a strong return last December, in a whirlwind of flowers and colors that we had missed over the past 20 years. Following its successful comeback, this collaboration is now in the spotlight, this time not in the fashion world, but in the art world, with a mini exhibition at Art Basel Hong Kong. A venue that makes sense not only given Murakami's Asian roots but also because of the very foundation of this collaboration, which paved the way for artist and luxury brand partnerships. In addition to showcasing the re-release of the Louis Vuitton x Murakami collection, the French house will also present a selection of the Japanese artist's works during the art fair held from Friday to Sunday at the Hong Kong Convention Center.

Presented in the form of a trunk, the stand includes life-sized Murakami statues, “Zoucho-kun” and “Tamon-kun,” and the “Superflat Jellyfish Eyes 1” screen, all part of the permanent collection of the Louis Vuitton Foundation in Paris. It also features pieces from the first edition of the collaboration, which debuted through the famous Monogram Multicolore introduced in the brand's SS03 collection under Marc Jacobs’ guidance. This includes the 2003 Monogram Multicolore Marilyn trunk, containing 33 Marilyn bags in the 33 colors of the iconic pattern, as well as a canvas and a Keepall bag in the hybrid Monogramouflage pattern he created in 2008. This collaboration, launched over a decade ago, remains an integral part of both members’ careers. While Louis Vuitton continues to integrate art not only into its collections but also into its overall image, especially with the Louis Vuitton Foundation hosting year-round exhibitions and art pieces, Murakami continues to integrate fashion into his art.

For example, last year, he included a Louis Vuitton Monogram Multicolore trunk in his exhibition at the Kyoto Kyocera Museum of Art, displayed next to his sculpture “Flower Parent and Child.” “The reason is that in Japan, contemporary art is somewhat of a minor interest, while fashion is something that really, really interests everyone,” Murakami explained to WWD. “I thought it would be a good way to attract the attention of the Japanese public,” he concluded. And he was right. Both the Japanese and Chinese, French, and Italian audiences have had their eyes fixed on Murakami's work in recent years, well beyond his collaboration with Louis Vuitton. Let’s hope this mini exhibition makes its way to Europe.