LOUIS VUITTON’S VISIONARY JOURNEYS: CRAFTING THE SPIRIT OF TRAVEL IN SHANGHAI

At The Louis in Shanghai, Louis Vuitton presents Visionary Journeys: an immersive exhibition that retraces the Maison’s heritage of travel, craftsmanship, and innovation. Designed by OMA’s Shohei Shigematsu, the experience reflects over 170 years of creativity and savoir-faire, brought to life through architecture and artistry.

For Louis Vuitton, travel has always been more than a destination: it is a philosophy. Since the founder’s journey on foot to Paris in 1837, the Maison has continually reinvented the experience of movement, transforming functionality into art. Visionary Journeys, extends this legacy, guiding visitors through an immersive narrative of innovation and savoir-faire.

Spanning two floors inside The Louis – a striking, ship-shaped structure at the heart of Shanghai’s business district – the exhibition unfolds through a series of themed spaces.

It begins with Trunkscape, a monumental installation composed of Monogram canvas trunks forming an architectural archway that pays tribute to Louis Vuitton’s earliest creations.

From there, each section of Visionary Journeys reveals a different facet of the Maison’s identity. Origins explores the early ingenuity of Louis Vuitton’s Asnières workshop, which gave rise to the modern travel trunk. Archival pieces designed for transoceanic voyages stand alongside reinterpretations of those same designs, showing how heritage continues to inspire contemporary creation.

In Voyage, a space dedicated to the poetry of travel, archival patents, bespoke commissions, and historical campaigns illustrate how the art of movement became a field for imagination and craftsmanship.

The Perfume room traces the evolution of Louis Vuitton’s olfactory universe, from the crystal flacons of the 1920s to the refined compositions by master perfumer Jacques Cavallier-Belletrud.

Meanwhile, Books and Sport highlight the Maison’s broader cultural footprint, from Gaston-Louis Vuitton’s passion for literature to the Maison’s creation of elegant trophy trunks for global events such as Formula 1 and the America’s Cup.

Further along, Fashion & Leather goods showcases emblematic designs that marked turning points in Louis Vuitton’s history, revealing how successive artistic directors have reimagined its codes while preserving the spirit of craftsmanship that defines the Maison.

The journey culminates in Workshop, where visitors witness the precision and artistry of Louis Vuitton’s artisans through displays of hand-stitching, embossing, and leatherwork, each detail underscoring the Maison’s commitment to enduring quality.

The Louis itself extends this narrative into architecture. Conceived as both a ship and a trunk, the structure embodies Louis Vuitton’s dual identity: rooted in travel and craftsmanship, yet resolutely modern. The building’s metallic Monogram hull and tiered silhouette evoke the form of stacked trunks and the prow of an ocean liner. Inside, fluid transitions between exhibition, boutique, and Le Café Louis Vuitton create a complete experience that unites art, culture, and savoir-faire.

This dialogue between design and place is no coincidence. The Louis reflects Shanghai’s identity as a historic port city – a gateway between East and West – where cultures, ideas, and craftsmanship have long converged. In this context, Louis Vuitton’s architectural presence resonates deeply, linking the Maison’s origins in 19th-century travel to the modern dynamism of China’s cultural landscape.

With Visionary Journeys, Louis Vuitton finds a fitting anchor for its philosophy of movement and cultural dialogue. The exhibition not only celebrates the art of travel but also reflects on how legacy continues to inspire innovation. Through every trunk, fragrance, and stitch, it tells the story of a Maison whose voyage – from the banks of the Seine to the harbors of Shanghai – continues to shape the future of luxury.