Project Name
Correspondences
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Art, Fashion, Fashion design
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Project NameCorrespondencesPosted inArt, Fashion, Fashion design

Louis Vuitton is a name that needs no introduction. Extremely prestigious, highly-coveted and iconic, the Maison has a long celebrated tradition in the creation of uber-luxurious artefacts that come second to none, especially when it comes to exquisite travel sets and luggage. Since 1854, Louis Vuitton has been providing the perfect accompaniment to the world’s most demanding travellers, inventing l'art de voyager with each expertly conceived and painstakingly crafted creation. Today Yatzer presents Zephyr, the suitcase that is set to be the new star of the Louis Vuitton rolling luggage family, along with the now iconic Pégase.

STEPHEN ANTONAKOSPackage Project, 1971Séries de 84 paquets / Paquet de Robert IndianaEncre, papier et technique mixteSeries of 84 packages / Package from Robert Indiana Ink, paper, and mixed media Photo: Jeffrey Sturges, New YorkCourtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin/Dusseldorf© 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS
Package Project, 1971
Séries de 84 paquets / Paquet de Robert Indiana
Encre, papier et technique mixte
Series of 84 packages / Package from Robert Indiana 
Ink, paper, and mixed media 
Photo: Jeffrey Sturges, New York
Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin/Dusseldorf
© 1971 Stephen Antonakos

Beautifully pairing elegance with function, the new four-wheeled suitcase is here to radically enhance the travel experience with its subtly retro look, reassuring curves and ergonomic design. The Zephyr proudly exhibits all the features that make a piece of Louis Vuitton luggage so distinctive: the pale gold patina on the leather handle and address tag, the padlock, the iconic Monogram canvas and LV initials along with a myriad discreet and carefully considered refinements that contribute to the brand’s timeless elegance. A series of slim pockets and closed adjustable spaces offer so many possibilities which are sure to fulfill every traveller’s needs.

Louis Vuitton’s new four-wheeled suitcase. Pégase series.photo © Louis Vuitton

Louis Vuitton’s new four-wheeled suitcase. Pégase series.
photo © Louis Vuitton

Keeping in line with Louis Vuitton’s highest standards in terms of precision, robustness and quality, the suitcase features a saddle stitch (piqûres à cheval) that not only adds to its beauty, but also significantly increases its durability and robustness. Held together by a fibreglass frame, discreetly placed underneath the zip, it incorporates waterjet cutting for a perfect matching of luggage structure and functional pieces unique to Louis VuittonOnce again at the leading edge of innovation, the TR4 is the first branded thermo compressed canvas luggage, a technology combining excellent canvas skills (durability and resistance to abrasion) with a strong rigidity as well as an elasticity which is shock absorbent. Add to this to its ability to twist and turn upon itself with admirable ease and you have the perfect suitcase that will make travelling not only stylish a pleasure as well.

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS(package from / paquet de Unidentified)Package Project, 1971 84 paquets / 84 packages Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York © 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS
(package from / paquet de Unidentified)
Package Project, 1971
84 paquets / 84 packages
Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media
Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions
Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist
Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf
Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York
© 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS(package from / paquet de Sol LeWitt)Package Project, 1971 84 paquets / 84 packages Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York © 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS
(package from / paquet de Sol LeWitt)
Package Project, 1971
84 paquets / 84 packages
Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media
Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions
Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist
Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf
Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York
© 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS(package from / paquet de Joe Brainard)Package Project, 1971 84 paquets / 84 packages Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York © 1971 Stephen Antonakos

STEPHEN ANTONAKOS
(package from / paquet de Joe Brainard)
Package Project, 1971
84 paquets / 84 packages
Encre, papier et technique mixte / Ink, paper, and mixed media
Dimensions variables / Variable dimensions
Prêt de l’artiste / Lent by the artist
Courtesy Konrad Fischer Galerie, Berlin / Dusseldorf
Photo : Jeffrey Sturges, New York
© 1971 Stephen Antonakos

And as if the news of a brand new Louis Vuitton luggage was not enough to excite travel enthusiasts, theEspace Culturel Louis Vuitton further invites us to travel through time and space with a beautiful exhibition, while admiring the new Zephyr at their grand Champs-Élysées store.

Correspondences’ is the new exhibition that is currently on display until May 5, 2013 at the Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton, the exhibition space located within the Maison’s Champs-Élysées flagship store in Paris, France. Curated by Erik Verhagen, the exhibition takes visitors through the history of Mail Art, the cultural movement that was born in the early 1960s centred around the idea of sharing unique artworks through the international postal system.

Aesthetically influenced by common postal objects, the artists ingeniously combined postage stamps, collage, handwriting, typography and rubber stamps to create envelope-enclosed artworks. The artworks were then mailed to another artist with explicit instructions to add on to and subsequently mail to the next artist. Generated by a desire to circumvent the art market and thus not be embedded with institutions, this chain-mail approach allowed a free distribution of art and created  an opportunity to directly exchange ideas and information among artists in different countries.

RAY JOHNSONSans titre / Untitled, Non daté / UndatedCollage sur papier / Collage on paper 21,6 x 27,9 cm Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co. © Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSON
Sans titre / Untitled, Non daté / Undated
Collage sur papier / Collage on paper
21,6 x 27,9 cm
Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.
© Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSONSans titre / Untitled, 1988 Enveloppe / Envelope 27,9 x 21,6 cm Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co. © Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSON
Sans titre / Untitled, 1988
Enveloppe / Envelope
27,9 x 21,6 cm
Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.
© Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSONSans titre / Untitled, Non daté / UndatedCourrier / Mailing 27,9 x 21,6 cm Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co. © Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSON
Sans titre / Untitled, Non daté / Undated
Courrier / Mailing
27,9 x 21,6 cm
Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.
© Ray Johnson Estate

Building on this very premise, the exhibition establishes an open dialogue between artists by bringing together works by creators from different generations with different sensibilities. The fact that they have all chosen to use the post as an artistic medium is the unifying factor between them. Featuring a selection of work from artists such as Eleanor Antin, Stephen Antonakos, Walead Beshty, Alighiero Boetti, Jan Dibbets, Eugenio Dittborn,Kurt Ryslavy, Vittorio Santoro and Danh Võ, it offers visitors the chance to delve into the world of mail art from its very beginning up until now.

Particular importance has been given to pioneering artist Ray Johnson, whose work has rarely been shown in France. A key figure in the development of mail art, Johnson invented the New York Correspondence School, which opened up an extensive mail art network of pen pals. The art of correspondence is intimately connected to and principally dependent on the idea of an established network comprised of artists, friends, or anonymous people brought together by a simple letter or package. Through this medium Ray Johnson promoted his letter-based body of work by mailing it to friends (such as artists Eleanor Antin, Alighiero Boetti and Jan Dibbets whose work is also exhibited) and asking them to contribute with their own finishing touches. Inevitably this interactive approach to the creation process broke all traditional conventions with regards to the status of the creator, which was meant to be shared (as illustrated by the work of Vittorio Santoro) or even be entirely wiped out (as seen in that of artist Danh Võ).

The Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton has also decided to give two artists a carte blanche: videographer Clarisse Hahnand sculptor Guillaume Leblon, who interestingly lend their own perspective to the myriad of facets and possibilities of an art form that uses a medium and aesthetic that s becoming scarce in our digitally-centred era.

Philatelists or even dada enthusiasts should not miss out on the opportunity to see this up close!

VITTORIO SANTOROLetters To People (Silence Destroys Consequences), 2010-2011 Marqueur sur lettre et enveloppe / Marker on letter sheet and envelope Env : 25.3 x 33 cm Lett : 28.7 x 21 cm Courtesy de l’artiste, Galerie Jérôme Poggi, Paris et Galerie Campagne Première, Berlin © Vittorio Santoro

VITTORIO SANTORO
Letters To People (Silence Destroys Consequences), 2010-2011
Marqueur sur lettre et enveloppe / Marker on letter sheet and envelope
Env : 25.3 x 33 cm
Lett : 28.7 x 21 cm
Courtesy de l’artiste, Galerie Jérôme Poggi, Paris et Galerie Campagne Première, Berlin
© Vittorio Santoro

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES EN MARCHE / 100 BOOTS ON THE MARCH, La Jolla, California. July 6, 1972 11:45 a.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES EN MARCHE / 100 BOOTS ON THE MARCH, La Jolla, California. July 6, 1972 11:45 a.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

JAN DIBBETSOn May 9, 1969 Carte postale / Postcard (recto verso) 10,2 x 15,2 cm Collection privée / Private collection Photo : Tom Haartsen © ADAGP Paris 2012

JAN DIBBETS
On May 9, 1969
Carte postale / Postcard (recto verso)
10,2 x 15,2 cm
Collection privée / Private collection
Photo : Tom Haartsen
© ADAGP Paris 2012

RAY JOHNSONSans titre / Untitled, 1972 Enveloppe / Envelope 10,8 x 24,1 cm Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co. © Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSON
Sans titre / Untitled, 1972
Enveloppe / Envelope
10,8 x 24,1 cm
Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.
© Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSONSans titre / Untitled, Non daté / Undated Courrier / Mailing 8,9 x 14 cm Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co. © Ray Johnson Estate

RAY JOHNSON
Sans titre / Untitled, Non daté / Undated
Courrier / Mailing
8,9 x 14 cm
Courtesy Richard L. Feigen & Co.
© Ray Johnson Estate

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES AU CLUB « EGYPTIAN GARDENS » / 100 BOOTS VISIT ''THE EGYPTIAN GARDENS'' 29th Street and 9th Avenue, New York City. May 15, 1973 4:45 p.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES AU CLUB « EGYPTIAN GARDENS » / 100 BOOTS VISIT ''THE EGYPTIAN GARDENS'' 29th Street and 9th Avenue, New York City. May 15, 1973 4:45 p.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

EUGENIO DITTBORNTo Return (RTM), 1993 Peinture Aéropostale N°103 / Airmail Painting N°103 Teinture, couture, fusain et photosérigraphie sur six modules de non woven fabric / Tincture, charcoal, stitching and photosilkscreen on six sections of non woven fabric.

EUGENIO DITTBORN
To Return (RTM), 1993
Peinture Aéropostale N°103 / Airmail Painting N°103
Teinture, couture, fusain et photosérigraphie sur six modules de non woven fabric / Tincture, charcoal, stitching and photosilkscreen on six sections of non woven fabric.

DANH VÕ2.2.1861, 2009- Dernière lettre de Saint Théophane Vénard à son père avant qu’il ne soit décapité, copiée par Phung Võ, 2009Le titre et le numéro des exemplaires existants restent indéterminés jusqu’à la mort de Phung Võ. Chaque texte écrit à la main arrivera dans une enveloppe et sera posté par Phung Võ directe¬ment à l’acheteur, dont l’adresse sera archivée par Phung Võ.2.2.1861, 2009- Last letter of Saint Théophane Vénard to his father before he was decapitated copied by Phung Võ, 2009Title and number of existing copies remains undefined until the death of Phung Võ. Each handwritten text will arrive in an envelope and be postmailed by Phung Võ directly to the buyer, whose address as recipient will be archived by Phung Võ.Encre sur papier / Ink on paper 29,6 x 21 cm Courtesy de l’artiste et Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin © Danh Võ, Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin

DANH VÕ
2.2.1861, 2009- Dernière lettre de Saint Théophane Vénard à son père avant qu’il ne soit décapité, copiée par Phung Võ, 2009
Le titre et le numéro des exemplaires existants restent indéterminés jusqu’à la mort de Phung Võ. Chaque texte écrit à la main arrivera dans une enveloppe et sera posté par Phung Võ directe¬ment à l’acheteur, dont l’adresse sera archivée par Phung Võ.
2.2.1861, 2009- Last letter of Saint Théophane Vénard to his father before he was decapitated copied by Phung Võ, 2009
Title and number of existing copies remains undefined until the death of Phung Võ. Each handwritten text will arrive in an envelope and be postmailed by Phung Võ directly to the buyer, whose address as recipient will be archived by Phung Võ.
Encre sur papier / Ink on paper
29,6 x 21 cm
Courtesy de l’artiste et Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin
© Danh Võ, Galerie Isabella Bortolozzi, Berlin

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES SOUS LE PORCHE / 100 BOOTS ON THE PORCH, Sorrento Valley, California. October 8, 1971 12:15 p.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES SOUS LE PORCHE / 100 BOOTS ON THE PORCH, Sorrento Valley, California. October 8, 1971 12:15 p.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES DEVANT LA MER /100 BOOTS FACING THE SEA, Del Mar, California. February 9, 1971 2:00 p.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES DEVANT LA MER /100 BOOTS FACING THE SEA, Del Mar, California. February 9, 1971 2:00 p.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES EN CERCLES / 100 BOOTS CIRCLING, Lomas Santa Fe, California. May 17, 1971 12:30 p.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES EN CERCLES / 100 BOOTS CIRCLING, Lomas Santa Fe, California. May 17, 1971 12:30 p.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN100 BOTTES SUR LA ROUTE / 100 BOOTS ON THE ROAD, Leucadia, California. July 12, 1971 10:30 a.m...........................................100 BOOTS, 1971-7351 photographies cartes postalesnoir et blanc / 51 black and whitepicture postcards11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / eachCourtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,New York© Eleanor Antin

ELEANOR ANTIN
100 BOTTES SUR LA ROUTE / 100 BOOTS ON THE ROAD, Leucadia, California. July 12, 1971 10:30 a.m.
..........................................
100 BOOTS, 1971-73
51 photographies cartes postales
noir et blanc / 51 black and white
picture postcards
11,4 x 17,8 cm chaque / each
Courtesy Ronald Feldman Fine Arts,
New York
© Eleanor Antin

ALIGHIERO BOETTI Code : Eritrea Libera, 1975 Collage d’enveloppes timbrées d’Ethiopie / Collage of stamped envelopes from Ethiopia 52 x 71,5 cm Collection Anne-Marie Sauzeau Boetti Photo : Pauline Guyon © ADAGP Paris 2012

ALIGHIERO BOETTI
Code : Eritrea Libera, 1975
Collage d’enveloppes timbrées d’Ethiopie / Collage of stamped envelopes from Ethiopia
52 x 71,5 cm
Collection Anne-Marie Sauzeau Boetti
Photo : Pauline Guyon
© ADAGP Paris 2012

L'Art De Voyager: Louis Vuitton's New Four-Wheeled Suitcase And The 'Correspondences' Exhibition

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