Princely Wrappinghood - The Art of being Louis Vuitton

Hong Kong's Museum Of Art as it looks today

To celebrate a long and passionate partnership between luxury goods maker Louis Vuitton and the arts, the Hong Kong Museum of Art has been 'wrapped' by one of Vuitton's long time artistic collaborators, Richard Prince. The building has been covered in Prince's "After Dark" series to celebrate the "Louis Vuitton; A Passion For Creation" exhibition within, an extensive retrospective that runs through until August this year.

Richard Prince Artwork for Louis Vuitton, 2007

The exhibition encapsulates the company's historical association with the arts which burgeoned under Gaston-Louis Vuitton's stewardship and was cemented by a milestone series of historical collaborations, most recently with Marc Jacobs, who in turn invited collaboration from the likes of Murikami, Jeff Koons, Stephen Sprouse and Richard Prince to great effect during the reinvention of the luxury brand. Art is now integral to the house itself and in 2006 Yves Carcelle, Chairman and CEO of Louis Vuitton opened a multi-gallery space for artistic expression atop the Champs Elysées store.

Sketch of the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création by Frank Gehry

The Hong Kong exhibition is a prelude to the opening of the future Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création, a phenomenal new Frank Gehry designed arts centre in Paris. Situated on the Bois de Boulogne and the Jardin d'Acclimatation the glass pavilion expresses a "notion of transparency" according to the great architect. Ostensibly a series of chapel-like galleries connected by large expanses of glass, the Fondation Louis Vuitton pour la Création, along with the current Hong Kong exhibition suggests that Louis Vuitton's commitment to the arts is only growing stronger.

Model of the Fondation Louis Vuitton by Frank Gehry

Look out for more coverage on this project in Issue 11 of Black. Kanye West, another collaborator celebrates Takashi Murakami's work here.

Louis Vuitton: A Passion For Creation
Hong Kong Museum Of Art
May 22 - August 9, 2009
Sunday - Friday 10am-6pm, Saturday 10am-8pm
Closed on Thursday (except public holidays)