WORLD OF LOUIS VUITTON
I finally got the chance to post about the incredible temporary exhibit I saw a few weeks ago. The Louis Vuitton Series 2 Exhibit is an installation that embraces the modern vision of Louis Vuitton today with its long history, starting in 1854. The exhibition is laid out so that viewers can experience the LV brand in various environments—think 3-D projections, mirrors, photo-collages, and videos, which bring to life a behind-the-scenes look at the brand. The exhibit features mirrors, videos, historical items from the collection, stark white walls and mannequins holding their iconic bags, a "backstage" room featuring racks of clothing assigned to models. It is a fun fashion escape that educates you about the brand and how it is expertly constructed. You enter through a dark room to be greeted by an illuminating red LV sign. Once you get past that installation, a second room with multiple faces greets you. Each room has a unique meaning and purpose. The room that stuck out the most was the one where it showed the complete hand-made process of each product (specifically the LV heels). It made you appreciate the craft of fashion. The digital projections in the 3d installation were stark contrasts to the pure white product gallery space. I liked the mix of digital and physical products, the chance ot learn how the products are made as well as seeing the real products displayed like art objects. The music was awesome, the lighting, the magic trunk, the holograms and runway show, really every aspect was more than I would have expected.
March 18, 2015 LV SERIES 2
So lucky that LA was the first stop for the Louis Vuitton Series 2 Exhibit.
According to Style.com, "Kicking off in L.A., the exhibit reinterprets the standard fashion show with a “series” of themed rooms dedicated to the Spring ’15 collection. Viewers enter the exhibit through a massive LV logo and make their way through an accessories gallery, a 360-degree room projecting the Spring ’15 show at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, and a re-created “backstage” area."
I was pretty blown away by the free exhibit, both as a unique experience but also as an interesting case study for showcasing a brand through the built environment. I appreciate the transformation of an iconic fashion brand into an experiential museum gallery through new media.
March 18, 2015 RIO: NITEROI
Strangely enough, Rio de Janeiro’s most famous building is actually not in Rio but across the bay in Niterói − a separate municipality that houses the landmark Museu de Arte Contemporânea. The museum is designed by Brazil’s most famous architect, Oscar Niemeyer, and resembles a snow white flying saucer, which stands in sharp contrast with the (usually) bright blue sky. It takes a subway, a ferry, a bus, and a walk fortified by coconut water to get to the fabled icon.
Although the suburb might be the less fancy sibling of a glamorous older sister, its museum outshines anything across the bay. Traveling across the water gave us a chance to step away from Rio’s frenzied bustle, to enjoy the cool breeze of the open sea.
Oscar Niemeyer ‘s Niterói remains as timeless and innovative today as it was built more than twenty years ago. The museum is organized around a processional ramp, painted in bold red to accentuate the ceremonial entrance. The building itself looks like a spaceship has landed on the cliff’s edge. The museum has a limited collection (as the original burned down) but the views and the experience are worth of the trip to the other side.
According to an architecture review, "In terms of timeless architecture, such disadvantages are unimportant, for Niterói is a modern triumph, something that deserves to be considered alongside such great buildings as Frank Lloyd Wright’s Fallingwater; Le Corbusier’s chapel at Ronchamp and Mies van der Rohe’s Farnworth house. Using one basic material, plus daring structural engineering, Niemeyer turned poured concrete painted white into an expressionist masterpiece." It’s a timeless classic, a beautiful form that is humble and grandiose at the same time.
March 16, 2015 HEIMA STORE
Excited to share my favorite Manila find from my recent trip to the Phillipines. Traveled to Manila for a business trip - can't quite spill the beans, but it was for a very exciting photoshoot - and had a bit of time to tour the crazy city. My client took me to Heima, a super fun home decor store in Kapitoloyo. Loved the colorful vibe and the shop's design philosophy, "Live Happy, Beyond Ordinary."
Translating to “at home”or “homeland” in Icelandic, Heima is a home and lifestyle store based in Manila, Philippines. Started by partners Bong Rojales and and Rossy Anne Yabut-Rojales, the store is a vibrant combination of design, furniture and décor.
According to the founders, "Heima is more than just a store, it is a philosophy for inspired living. Our brand is fueled by the passion for travel, music, and design. Advocating a lifestyle that promotes being original, standing out, and enjoying life’s whimsy, we envision everyone’s homes to be warm and welcoming. We take pride in building happy homes."
March 12, 2015