A year of art and culture: 2018 highlights from LVMH and its Maisons
LVMH
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© Thomas Garnier / © Christian Dior / © Fondation Louis Vuitton / © Louis Vuitton / © Chaumet
LVMH and its Maisons were very active throughout 2018 in their support for the arts and culture, from the double exhibition showcasing Jean-Michel Basquiat and Egon Schiele at the Fondation Louis Vuitton, to international exhibitions organized by LVMH Maisons, plus the Group’s many philanthropy initiatives. Take a look at some of the highlights from 2018.
Resounding success for “In Tune with the World” and “Jean-Michel Basquiat – Egon Schiele” exhibitions at the Fondation Louis Vuitton in 2018
The Fondation Louis Vuitton unveiled a new selection of works from its collection in an exhibition entitled In Tune with the World from April 11 through August 27, 2018. The hanging was presented in two themed sections spanning all the galleries in the building designed by Frank Gehry. One featured works by Japanese artist Takashi Murakami, and the other creations by 28 French and international artists from different generations.
Since the beginning of October 2018 the Fondation Louis Vuitton has celebrated the itineraries of two painters who were major figures in 20th century art – Egon Schiele (1890-1918) and Jean-Michel Basquiat (1960-1988) – exhibiting a selection of 250 pieces. The Egon Schiele exhibition runs until January 14, 2019 while the Jean-Michel Basquiat exhibition has been extended until January 21, 2019.
Global success for exhibitions organized by LVMH Maisons throughout 2018
Maison Chaumet has engaged with the entire world from the second half of the 19th century, drawing inspiration from myriad influences while bringing its Parisian style to other parts of the globe. Christian Dior very early recognized the importance of writing the story of his Parisian couture house on an international stage. In under ten years he conquered the world, continually opening boutiques in other countries and introducing pioneering concepts. And Louis Vuitton has always made travel an integral part of its DNA.
After presenting the world of Dior to over 700,000 visitors in 2017 with the exhibition “Christian Dior, Designer of Dreams” at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, Maison Christian Dior took its archives around the world in 2018. The exhibition “Dior, from Paris to the World” opened in mid-November at the Denver Art Museum, celebrating more than 70 years of haute couture and paying tribute to the resolutely modern international vision of Monsieur Dior along with the creative vision of his successors. On display are over 180 haute couture designs along with 25 of the toiles from the atelier, plus photographs, rarely seen videos and films, original sketches, nearly 200 accessories and many rare pieces from the Dior archives. The exhibition runs until March 3, 2019. And starting February 2nd, the Maison will invite the public to discover the Dior universe at the Victoria and Albert Museum.
After Paris, Tokyo, Seoul and New York, Maison Louis Vuitton brought its “Volez, Voguez, Voyagez” exhibition to the Shanghai Exhibition Center in mid-November 2018. Following different chronologies, the exhibition takes visitors through 15 rooms, each dedicated to an emblematic chapter in the history of Louis Vuitton. The sweeping retrospective of the Maison’s history presents both selected historical works and current pieces to take visitors on a memorable journey between past and present.
From June to September 2018 the Mitsubishi Ichigokan Museum in Tokyo welcomed a stunning exhibition “The Worlds of Chaumet”, taking visitors on a journey through the history, heritage and savoir-faire of the renowned jeweler.
Philanthropy
Philanthropy programs at LVMH and its Maisons enabled a range of initiatives in the arts and culture throughout 2018. They included renovation of historical monuments, acquisition of works for major museums and support for social solidarity art projects, reflecting the Group’s longstanding commitment to making culture available to the broadest possible public.
In May 2018, following three years of meticulous renovation and refurnishing, two buildings especially dear to Marie-Antoinette – the “Queen’s House” and the Réchauffoir (where dishes were warmed before being served at the royal table) – reopened to the public. The two exceptional buildings in the heart of the Queen’s Hamlet at the Château de Versailles were restored thanks to support from the LVMH Group and Maison Dior. This support is part an extensive and philanthropy program that LVMH has sponsored since 1991 to help preserve and heighten the appeal of the Château de Versailles and its estate.
Thanks to active support from LVMH for the “Tous Mécènes!” crowdfunding campaign, The Book of Hours of King François I, a major national heritage piece, joined the permanent collections of the Louvre in February 2018.
Last but not least, in June 2018, the Fondation Louis Vuitton welcomed the second edition of the recto/verso exhibition and charity auction alongside the Secours Populaire Français. Contemporary art works donated by over 100 artists from the world over were exhibited and then sold in a blind auction, with all proceeds donated to the Secours Populaire Français to fund a program to enable vulnerable members of society to enjoy the arts and culture.