By The Fashion Editorial Team
Since its breakthrough exhibition unveiling in Shanghai, Louis Vuitton now reveals its 'Visionary Journeys' at the Nakanoshima Museum of Art in Osaka, Japan. An immersive journey running from July 15 through September 17, the showcase coincides with World Expo Osaka Kansai 2025 and marks 170 years since the house's founding. This significant event highlights the enduring cultural exchange between Louis Vuitton and Japan.
Curated by fashion historian Florence Müller and designed by Shohei Shigematsu-OMA, this voyage unfolds over twelve chapters of the house's savoir-faire and global exploration. Opened in 2022 and already considered a leading venue for modern and contemporary art in Japan, the new exhibition introduces over 1,000 objects, including 200 Japanese artifacts, as a tribute to the longstanding relationship between the house and Japan.
As visitors enter the Nakanoshima Museum of Art, guests are greeted by eight monumental trunk columns composed of Monogram washi paper that shine from within, creating luminous lanterns over five stories tall. A majestic archway composed of assembled trunks formally welcomes visitors on their Louis Vuitton journey through time. The first room, Asnières, takes viewers to a region outside Paris where House's original workshops were based; archival footage and art drawings dating back to 1854 are on display here. Next, in Origins, the history behind the iconic flat-top trunk is revealed, along with its ingenious lock system. Expansions follows, showcasing rugged travel pieces like zinc trunks alongside legendary examples like the famous 'Secrétaire Bureau Stokowski' trunk – designs that have inspired countless Louis Vuitton campaigns.
A testament to Louis Vuitton's enduring collaborations with Japan lies in its association with renowned contemporary artists like Takashi Murakami, Yayoi Kusama, Rei Kawakubo, and NIGO®. The collaborative room takes center stage, showcasing wondrous fusions of East meets West through interactive displays that blend traditional tea ceremonies, kawaii aesthetics, and cutting-edge fashion designs. Floating tatami platforms cradle exquisite pieces by Louis Vuitton alongside authentic artifacts from esteemed museum collections, which are mirrored on the ceiling as a dazzling display of tatami lights.
The next series of rooms, Materials, Monogram Canvas, The Workshop, and Testing, each explore different facets of the storied creation process behind the French Maison. Highlights include an original 1897 monogram canvas designed by Georges Vuitton, rediscovered in the Archives de Paris and exhibited here for the first time. In The Workshop, two bespoke trunks emerge: a Toolbox Trunk for artist and House ambassador, Sho Hirano, and a Courier Trunk for Osaka-born designer, Verdy.
Notably, the exhibition goes beyond the brand's leather goods origins to explore the House's rarefied high-fashion heritage in the exclusive space, Atelier Rarex. Distinguished by its exclusive high-fashion workshop, it produces one-of-a-kind couture pieces worn by celebrities at prestigious events like the Met Gala and the Academy Awards. The Mansard roof of the Louis Vuitton Maison Vendôme inspires the design, transforming upper windows into niches that evoke the store's famous dressing rooms.
At the exhibition's finale, Collaborations, invites guests to rediscover artistic encounters that have shaped the global fashion industry. Stephen Spruce's graffiti, Supreme x Louis Vuitton, Kusama, and Murakami are spotlighted in four kaleidoscopic domes to mark pivotable moments for the Maison and also key developments within modern fashion history.
Visionary Journeys takes viewers on a journey through space and time, exploring Louis Vuitton's enduring legacy of Art of Travel. Through archival treasures, artworks, and multimedia installations, it reveals how the House redefines creativity, beauty, and innovation. Notably, the gift store offers two exclusive mementos: The Exhibition Notebook and The Exhibition Catalogue. Also, pre-order "Louis Vuitton Japan" (July), a collaborative masterpiece with Rizzoli Editions available at select Louis Vuitton stores and online.