Collaboration

The Most Luxurious Canvas

Artist Park Seo-Bo¡¯s Work Is Embodied on Louis Vuitton¡¯s bag

This is the third collaboration between Park and Louis Vuitton. In May of this year, two pieces of Park¡¯s ¡°Ecriture¡± series were exhibited at Pierre Sang at Louis Vuitton, the luxury brand¡¯s first ever pop-up restaurant in the Korea. Last October, Park participated as a guest artist in the revised Seoul edition of the Louis Vuitton City Guide Collection in which he introduced various aspects of Seoul, from restaurants to galleries.

Their third collaboration came with the ¡°ArtyCapucines Collection.¡± The ArtyCapucines Collection is a collaboration project between Louis Vuitton and six world-renowned contemporary artists that captures their artistic world through the iconic Louis Vuitton Capucines bag. The ArtyCapucines Collection debuted in 2019. Park is the first Korean artist to participate in the project.

The World of Park Seo-Bo

Park¡¯s representative work is undoubtedly ¡°Ecriture.¡±

Park summarized the concept of Dansaekhwa as ¡°the purposeless of an act, infinite repetition, and the spiritualization of materiality (occurring in the course of an act).¡± His ¡°Ecriture¡± series is based on these three things. The ¡°Ecriture¡± series has undergone various morphological changes for half a century, but has remained consistent with the artist¡¯s philosophy of ¡°emptying¡± and ¡°receiving.¡±

The work that was chosen for the collaboration for Capucines was the one that expressed the red maple color of nature. It is the work that marked a turning point for Park. Park suffered from a sense of crisis as an artist in the fall of 2000. He was able to experience a great healing sensation while watching the red-flaming autumn leaves. The experience led to a new form of ¡°Ecriture¡± called ¡°Color Ecriture¡± and inspired him to bring the beautiful colors of nature to the canvas. Just as Park brought the resonance of nature to the canvas, this collaboration aims to bring his Dansaekhwa spirit and red maple colors to Capucines.

A Delicate Way to Implement ¡°Ecriture¡±

Park and Louis Vuitton wanted to express the true meaning of the original work through this collaboration. They went through several zoom meetings and sample exchanges for the implementation of the original.

First, he carefully selected bright red and burgundy shades of leather. He then conducted numerous tests in order to find the best way to express the red maple color of the original work. The main goal of the task was to capture the unique touch and texture of Park¡¯s ¡°Ecriture.¡±

After long discussions between Park and Louis Vuitton artisans, they agreed the best way to represent that unique texture was the rubber injection method. A high-definition 3D scan was created of the original work. The leather was then pressed to create a ribbing effect. After that, rubber was delicately injected to add height. The Louis Vuitton artisans then applied colors with delicate brush strokes.

If you look a little closer, you can see how the various elements of Park¡¯s work have been seamlessly integrated into Capucines. The tree that forms the frame of the canvas is implemented as a handle made from walnut. In order to replicate the back of the canvas with Park¡¯s signature, the lining of the bag was treated with linen and the signature was printed on the center pocket. Four studs were attached to the bottom of the bag, inspired by the screws embedded in a wooden frame to protect the hanji (traditional Korean paper) sticking out from the canvas.

Art That Permeates Daily Life

Louis Vuitton is currently exhibiting the 2022 ArtyCapucines Collection at Louis Vuitton Maison Seoul. The exhibition runs from Nov. 8 to 24. All of the 2022 collections are on display including the collaboration with Park as well as world-renowned artists Daniel Buren, Ugo Rondinone, Peter Marino, Kennedy Yanko, and Amelie Bertrand. The exhibition is open to the public free of charge, giving everyone the opportunity to see the work.

Three other pieces from Park¡¯s ¡°Ecriture¡± series are on display at the exhibition in addition to the ArtyCapucines Collection. Two large artworks were displayed as if they were floating in the air using acrylics, without attaching them to the wall. So, visitors could appreciate the back of the canvas. This gave visitors a unique opportunity to see how the artist¡¯s world was integrated into the bag.

Park described the collaboration as ¡°a model example of how art can coexist with the public in everyday life.¡± Luxury bags are not something everyone can own, but the free exhibition for the 2022 ArtyCapucines Collection created a place where art could permeate the public¡¯s daily life. This is why it feels more fitting to use the word ¡°artwork¡± to describe the ArtyCapucines Collection as opposed to the word ¡°product.¡±