SEE THE VISION
LOUIS VUITTON’S TRAVELLING EXHIBITION, THE SEE LV HAS MADE ITS FIFTH STOP AT THE FIRST FLEET PARK IN SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA. ANINDYA DEVY REPORTS
Home to iconic attractions and a magnificent harbour, the city of Sydney in Australia is a coastal metropolis and the latest destination for Louis Vuitton’s travelling exhibition, SEE LV. After its inauguration in Wuhan in 2020, followed by Hangzhou, Dubai and Tokyo, the exhibition has now found its temporary home overlooking the famed Harbour Bridge and the Sydney Opera House at the First Fleet Park.
The SEE LV exhibition takes loyal brand fans, new followers and history buffs deep into the world of everything Louis Vuitton.
It showcases mixed archival objects from the Maison’s heritage collection along with recent creations, allowing visitors to emerge themselves through immersive and interactive digital experiences into the tradition, prestige and allure of this enduring luxe brand.
The exhibition is housed in an eye-catching immense blue rectangular structure with the iconic brand name emblazoned onto the façade. At a glance, it looks like a giant QR code and if you approach while pointing your mobile phone’s camera at it, a tiny pop-up link will emerge. From there it directs you to Louis Vuitton’s website where visitors can learn more about the exhibition.
The spectacle takes visitors across five Vuitton universes, to explore five different parts of the brand’s history and its unparalleled contribution to the fashion world. Upon entry, visitors are greeted with a portrait of a young 20-year-old Louis Vuitton designed by Turkish-American new media artist Refik Anadol. Crafted using Artificial Intelligence, a screen displays Vuitton’s face constructed from one million images illustrating Jura, the birthplace of the designer in 1821.
"The spectacle takes visitors across five Vuitton universes, to explore five different parts of the brand's history and its unparalleled contribution to the fashion world."
The second universe is a darkened room which reveals a reverse-chronology selection of men’s and women’s ready-to-wear pieces throughout the years. From Virgil Abloh and Nicolas Ghesquière to the notable designers before them, namely Kim Jones and Marc Jacobs. Each designer is represented by one look from their premiere and final fashion shows.
Featured in this room is an exquisite 19thcentury gown standing alongside a historical 1906 trunk, with both still in superb condition, illustrating the Maison’s longstanding relationship with fashion. The brand found its way into clothing in 1854 when Vuitton began packing his client’s haute couture garments. Fast forward to 1995, the company launched its ready-to-wear collection which took the fashion world by storm.
The third universe is all about bags as these play a huge part in the story of the Maison since the late 1890s. Initially created in leather to accompany small ventures or folded in hard-sided luggage, this room showcases iconic leather items that continue to inspire to this day. From the Steamer Trunk to the Speedy, visitors can indulge in a wall of LV’s signature shapes and accompanying images of the brand’s celebrity friends, such as Miranda Kerr, Jennifer Connelly, Samara Weaving and Hugh Jackman.
And if that’s not enough, the fourth universe is an evolution gallery, depicting how the brand has accompanied every transport revolution. From the steamer ships to the skateboard, from automobiles to new urban technologies, the room gathers some of the Maison’s legendary creations and explains how each one has contributed to the evolution of lifestyles and travelling habits.
The fifth and final universe is an interactive space dedicated to the Maison’s emblematic Monogram design. Invented circa 1896, the iconic Monogram was designed by Georges Vuitton as a homage to his father, Louis. And to this day, the Monogram remains unmistakable as Louis Vuitton’s world-famous logo, repeatedly reinterpreted by the house’s artistic directors. As visitors walk through the space, the screen moves along with them, bringing out a sense of play in all of us. Further afield, there is a curated library space, where visitors can discover Éditions, LV’s latest literary publications with over 100 titles available to buy. The exhibition is free and open to the public until 11th December 2022. Don’t miss it. SEE you next time!