Kusama in Barcelona

Kusama for Louis Vuitton - this time in Barcelona.

The entrance of the Louis Vuitton store in Barcelona - and the
Yayoi Kusama window.

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Kusama for Vuitton in London

Yayoi Kusama took over London (and the world) this year - just head to any
Louis Vuitton store to see her wax figure in the window and the dotted
collection she made for the prestigious fashion brand.
This is the window of my beloved former workplace, the
Louis Vuitton New Bond street Maison. .

...another Kusama - on the top of the Selfridges deparment store
in Oxford street. Huge!



... and in the window of Selfridges.



...mini Kusama dolls in another window of the Selfridges.



The Louis Vuitton Kusama concept store in Selfridges. Selling only
Kusama designs.

London, Hirst, fish and chips...

Damien Hirst, Tate Modern, London (04.04.12 - 09.09.12)

Last month I was in London for a business trip and decided to stay there for the weekend, too. Finally I could cath up with my former colleagues from Louis Vuitton, had an amazing talk with my former boss and visited a few exhibitions, too. Damien Hirst wasn't on my list as the show is on until September all I wanted to see is the shop after the Kusama show (Kusama was about to end).  But then we realised that the shop is only for the exhibition crowd....weird concept indeed. A lovely lady saved us and let us in from the other end...she even closed her eyes, how sweet...  We didn't pay to get in... So we had a quick run (at least to see that famous shark...) and headed to the shop... The reason I wanted to go that I read a lot of comments about Mr Hirst's greed on Facebook and I wanted to see it myself. Indeed the shop is full of the Other Criteria merchandise... No comments...

To finish off the Tate visit before heading to the Royal Court we had a quick bite in the restaurant. I wanted to have a fish and chips and my friend ordered the same... The fish was so huge - we looked at the plates and looked at each other and started to laugh....oh...the shark!

Yayoi Kusama’s art has landed not only in Tate Modern but on New Bond Street as well. I just had to check my Facebook account to find pictures of her (yes, she visited the store) and her artworks made by my former colleagues at Louis Vuitton. As LV is sponsoring the show there is a small exhibition at the New Bond Street Maison, too. Worth visiting! Hope I can spare some time in March before leaving for Bangkok via London.  

True love: New Bond Street, London. photo by me.



Michael Landy's Credit Card Destorying Machine was exhibited last year at
the Louis Vuitton New Bond Street Maison to celebrate the grand opening.
It made real show at Frieze this year. London, photo by Török Viktória

As is says if you don't need your card, or don't want to spend more you can give
it to the young lady and the machine will destroy it. Actually last year at Vuitton
we had a couple and the husband before buying anything destroyed the card with it.
He said he did not want to spend money in the store. Wise decision - however I am not
sure about the lady. London, Frieze Art Fair, photo by Török Viktória

The machine also makes a little drawing that is signed by the artist. This time
they gave them away to the brave ones who let their cards to be destoyed.
Last year at Vuitton all customers was given one - some even framed it.
Mine is still rolled up somehwere in the apartment.
London, Frieze Art Fair, photo by Török Viktória

Oh, what a happy day. Boarding pass printed, ticket for the FRIEZE printed. Luggage is almost done. What else do I need? Heading to London in a day!

Old memories...my old company. Will pop in to say hello!
The Louis Vuitton Maison, New Bond Street, London.
photo by Török Viktória

View of the Avenue des Champs Elysees from the top of the Louis Vuitton store
- the Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton. The gallery hosts three exhibitions per year.
 Paris, photo by Török Viktória

There is electric blue colour and the sound of the sea in the Venice Pavilion. All the boats are leaning at the same angle and following the semicircle shape of the pavilion. They are waiting to be discovered. Entering the room all you can see is the bottom of the boats and you can hear this very strong noise – the sound of the sea. Step forward, pass by a couple of boats and stop for a second then turn around. What you will see now is amazing. Inside of all the boats there are screens showing water – moving water. This blue colour is magical, so strong and sharp.

On your Biennale visit leave this pavilion for the afternoon when you feel tired – it is perfect for chilling. Take your time and have a rest before you move on to the next one from here.       

Installation view in the Venice Pavilion,
works of video artist Fabrizio Plessi,
Venice Biennale, Giardini,
photo by Török Viktória

The Venice pavilion restored with the support of Arzana Navi and Louis Vuitton,
Venice Biennale, Giardini, photo by Török Viktória 

Louis Vuitton, London, New Bond Street
by Török Viktória

It is officially open for two days now. The Tracey Emin retrospective (Love is What you Want) at the Hayward Gallery is the first thing on my list when visiting London in July. I really love her monoprints and neon sculptures but I am also looking forward to see her video works and amazing blankets. The centre of Emin’s work is her personal experience and herself. Most of the time the works are quite frank, sexually provocative but they also can be funny. I am sure that the exhibition is very moving.

I learned from my Louis Vuitton spy - and former colleague that in the New Bond Street store at the exhibition space (first floor) there are works from her and also a limited edition silks scarf designed by her (edition of 50). And I am also 100% sure that the lovely bookstore is full of Emin’s book right now and other books that inspired her in her work. Cannot wait to see them all!

What a horrible day. It is the first day of May and it meant to be sunny. I don’t remember in my entire life a rainy day on 01.05. It was always sunny with celebrations on the street, music, sweets, greasy food and so on. We joined the European Union seven years ago actually. Time flies.

In the last three years that I spent in London as I remember it was always sunny. And today – here in Budapest – raining. How annoying. To comfort myself in the morning after waking up I stayed in bed for another hour and read one of the best books on contemporary art. There are a lot of “one of the best books” on the market and luckily in my personal library, too.

This one is by Sarah Thornton: Seven days in the art world. There are seven chapters about different areas of the contemporary art world. She introduces us the Turner Prize, the Venice Biennale, art fairs, auctions etc. It is a brilliant book and so entertaining that it is a perfect for someone who is interested but doesn’t know how to start learning about contemporary art.

My favourite chapter is about Takashi Murakami the famous Japanese artist who had a big show last year in Versailles. It was so playful that for the end in the last room all grown ups became children and took pictures of each other lying on the carpet created by Murakami with his famous flower motifs.  He is very much linked with Louis Vuitton as he created the multicolour canvas for the brand. When you are in London visit the flagship store on New Bond street and look for one of his sculptures (Kiki) next to the accessories area on the ground floor. Also there are good books on him on the first floor in the art bookstore.

Kaikai & Kiki by Takashi Murakami - photo by Török Viktória

Carpet in Versailles by Takashi Murakami - photo by Török Viktória

by Török Viktória

One of my favourite places in Paris is the exhibition space on the top of the Louis Vuitton store at the Champs-Elysées. It is almost like a little secret up in the air. Bernard Arnault, the owner of the LVMH group is one of the greatest art collectors in the world. He is so passionate about art and his collection. In the Espace Culturel Louis Vuitton there are 3-4 exhibitions per year.  You can visit the space via the store but I would recommend you to enter from the rue Bassano. This way you don’t need to queue to get in. The lift that takes you up to the 7^th floor was designed by Olafur Eliasson and is a real experience itself. At the gallery you get a brilliant little catalogue with the exhibition. It is free and beautifully made – a lot of people collect them.

Even if you are not a big fan of the brand after visiting the space go and visit the store. Admire the old trunks from the past and please go to the luggage area, sit on one of the sofas and when you feel very comfortable look up to the ceiling. It is amazing!