Summary
- Louis Vuitton opens “Visionary Journeys” in Osaka, an immersive exhibition running from July 15 to September 17 at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art
- The exhibit explores the House’s evolution through twelve themed chapters, featuring archival pieces, signature trunks, and rare collaborations
- Highlights include floating washi paper trunk sculptures, mirrored tatami installations, and exclusive works by NIGO, Murakami, Kusama, and Kawakubo
Louis Vuitton has officially opened its latest large-scale cultural exhibition, “Visionary Journeys,” at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka. Running from July 15 through September 17, the exhibition follows “the Louis” in Shanghai showcase earlier this summer, continuing the House’s global series of immersive experiences that spotlight its rich creative heritage and longstanding cultural dialogue with Japan.
Curated by renowned fashion historian Florence Müller and designed by Shohei Shigematsu, “Visionary Journeys” unfolds across twelve thematic chapters, offering an in-depth exploration of Louis Vuitton’s evolution through innovation, craftsmanship, and global exploration.
Visitors begin their journey in a striking atrium installation, where they’re greeted by eight monumental trunk columns made of Louis Vuitton’s signature washi paper, softly illuminated to resemble glowing lanterns suspended from the ceiling. This ethereal entryway leads into the Trunk Hemisphere, an immersive structure formed from 138 assembled trunks, symbolizing a portal to the brand’s creative universe. These trunkscapes serve as recurring centerpiece installations in the “Visionary Journeys” series.
The narrative continues in the Asnières room, which traces the House’s origins and historical milestones. Here, archival imagery, early sketches, and original footage bring to life Louis Vuitton’s evolution from a modest atelier founded in 1854 to a global luxury icon. In the Origins chapter, visitors encounter foundational creations like flat-top trunks, steamer bags, and the House’s revolutionary lock system. The story progresses to Expeditions, showcasing rugged travel pieces such as zinc trunks and the rare “Secrétaire Bureau Stokowski.”
A major highlight of the exhibition is the space dedicated to Louis Vuitton’s creative exchange with Japan, celebrating collaborations with Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Rei Kawakubo, and NIGO. These pieces are displayed on floating tatami platforms, with tatami-inspired lights mirrored on the ceiling, creating an infinite, space-like ambiance that blurs the boundary between artifact and art installation.
The Monogram Canvas room honors the House’s signature motif, spotlighting the 1896 canvas created by Georges Vuitton, including an original 1897 sample. Presented at the center of a celestial-inspired layout, the display is surrounded by iconic pieces that trace the motif’s legacy. The exhibition also includes a dedicated Workshop space that honors the artisans behind each creation, featuring two custom trunks: a Toolbox Trunk for Sho Hirano, artist and House ambassador, and a Courrier Trunk for Osaka-born designer Verdy. Archival footage from the Asnières atelier offers an intimate look into the meticulous craftsmanship behind the scenes.
The experience culminates in Collaborations, a dynamic room dedicated to the groundbreaking partnerships that have shaped Louis Vuitton’s impact on fashion and art. From the graffiti-infused designs of Stephen Sprouse to the legendary Supreme x Louis Vuitton crossover, and the immersive worlds of Kusama and Murakami, this chapter celebrates boundary-pushing creativity within four kaleidoscopic, multi-faceted domes of varying scale and complexity.
To conclude the journey, the exhibition features an exclusive gift shop offering two limited-edition collectibles: the “Visionary Journey”s Exhibition Notebook and the Exhibition Catalogue — perfect takeaways for visitors looking to own a piece of this richly curated experience.
The exhibition is open to reservation now through the Nakanoshima Museum of Art website or potentially through Louis Vuitton’s official website for the exhibition.
Espace Louis Vuitton Osaka
Louis Vuitton Maison Osaka
Midosuji 5F
2-8-16 Shinsaibashi-suji Chuo-ku
Osaka 542-0085
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