Artycapucines 2020: Six contemporary artists revisit the iconic Capucines bag

 

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection 2020 edition

The Louis Vuitton Artycapucines bag collection is a unique meeting of contemporary art, fashion and striking artisanal craftsmanship. The six new creations in the Artycapucines collection will be available in a limited edition of 200 pieces for each bag at select Louis Vuitton stores worldwide beginning October 30.

Six new reinterpretations of the iconic Louis Vuitton Capucines bag.

Louis Vuitton inaugurated the Artycapucines collection in June 2019, inviting six contemporary artists – Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood – to revisit its iconic Capucines bag. Six new artists continue the creative journey this year, redesigning the iconic accessory with their own singular aesthetic vision.

Seven years after the launch of its iconic Capucines bag – named after rue des Capucines in Paris, where Louis Vuitton opened his first store in 1854 – the Maison invited six renowned contemporary artists to once again revisit this classic. For this second wave, Beatriz Milhhazes, Jean-Michel Othoniel, Josh Smith, Henry Taylor, Liu Wei and Zhao Zhao follow Sam Falls, Urs Fischer, Nicholas Hlobo, Alex Israel, Tschabalala Self and Jonas Wood, who presented their original takes on the Capucines bag in 2019.

Each of the artists in this second wave appropriated the trapezoid shaped bag, rethinking the design with their personal style to create one-of-a-kind models. Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhares superposed a kaleidoscope of textures and colors in lambskin onto the bag’s sleek form.

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection

The creation by French artist Jean-Michel Othoniel – known for his Kiosque des Noctambules at the entrance to the Palais Royal metro station in Paris – completely reworked bag in a raffia weave topped with a boa like silk trim, completed by a twisted handle adorned with black pearls.

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection

Josh Smith proposes an equally personal version. The New York artist drew inspiration from a his original series of paintings titled Name, faithfully reproducing canvases spelling out his name in bright colors.

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection 2020

American Henry Taylor also transposed an original painting using cutting-edge laser printing and traditional marquetry techniques. Taylor reproduced the expressive face of the founder of the Underground Museum in Los Angeles from his 2017 portrait, creating a remarkable sculptural bas-relief on the Capucines bag canvas.

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection

The Louis Vuitton Capucines by Beijing-based Liu Wei is futuristic and sculptural, with aluminum plates and rings covered in metal spheres to hold the handle in place.

@Louis Vuitton Artycapucines collection

Lastly, Zhao Zhao created a graphic pattern that covers the entire surface of the bag like a sophisticated puzzle.

This fall, Louis Vuitton also unveiled new gemstone-inspired Capucines bags with previous stone detailing.

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