Louis Vuitton‘s renewed collaboration with iconic Japanese contemporary artist Takashi Murakami is in full swing, and obviously, it comes with a string of dedicated pop-up stores in leading shopping destinations across the planet, including New York City, London, Milan, Seoul, Shanghai and Singapore, and of course, in Tokyo. Here, an ephemeral hybrid space has nestled on Cat Street, a bustling shopping artery smack in the middle of the Harajuku shopping district comprising not only a shop, but also a cinema, a care station, and a café. The retail space sees a clean, whitewashed backdrop where latest collections, such as the colour-infused Monogram Multicolour, Superflat Panda, and Superflat Garden are showcased. There is also a playful vending machine brimming with coveted products.
The cozy cinema boasts chairs with flower cushions, and features two screenings—London-based artist and filmmaker David Surman‘s Superflat Monogram (2003) and Takashi Murakami’s Superflat 2 (Superflat First Love) (2009), which have been remastered to commemorate the renewed collaboration. As said, there’s also a care station on the premises where shoppers can experience how the paint on the Louis Vuitton x Murakami products is cared for by skilled artisans. And yes, as shopping can be tiresome, there’s a café on the premises with an immersive setting. The space features a broad plinth in glass, but right above, stretching towards the ceiling, it’s LED screens featuring branded content. A jolly sculpture panda on top of a Louis Vuitton trunk takes centre stage.
The café’s menu lists a selection of drinks served in special cups decorated with Monogram Multicolour and panda motifs, flower-designed muffins and Galettes bretonnes or French pancakes. Last but not least, a special exhibition is presented at this ephemeral space. It’s little over two decades since Louis Vuitton first collaborated with Murakami, and at the time, the iconic Monogram canvas was reinterpreted in three styles—Monogram Multicolour, I Love Monogram, and Monogram Cherry Blossom, in no less than 33 colours. Each style expressed Murakami fantastical vision inspired by manga, pop art, and 1950s pin-up photography. The showcase displays a selection of items from Louis Vuitton‘s vast archives (open through Jan 26). © superfuture
Louis Vuitton x Murakami pop-up store
6-14-2 Jingumae (Harajuku)
Tokyo 150-0001
Telephone +81 120 001854
Daily 11am-8pm
Publishers Note
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