Lounge
April 23, 2015
more trees × Louis Vuitton | A "Louis Vuitton Forest" Appears in Roppongi?
more trees × LOUIS VUITTON | "The Forest of Louis Vuitton" Appears in Roppongi?
Opening Event Features Live Performance by Ryuichi Sakamoto
A Photo Exhibition Capturing the Four Seasons of "The Forest of Louis Vuitton"
Louis Vuittoncreated "The Forest of Louis Vuitton" in Komoro City, Nagano Prefecture. This project, which began in 2009, is a collaboration with "more trees," a forest conservation organization headed by musicianRyuichi SakamotoMr. Sakamoto. It aims to maintain and revitalize forests of Japanese cedar and cypress that have been neglected. Ahead of this, on July 28th, a glamorous opening event was held, including a live performance by Mr. Sakamoto. Photographs by Mikael Takashima, capturing the four seasons of "The Forest of Louis Vuitton," will be exhibited at the Louis Vuitton Roppongi Hills store starting July 29th.
Text by OPENERS
A Lush Forest Appears at the Roppongi Boutique
This project aims to draw out the inherent power of the land, with themes of the "healing" effects of forests and the "beauty of nature" such as its grandeur. It's an initiative fitting for Louis Vuitton, a leader in the fashion world, which seeks not only to selectively thin trees from a forestry perspective but also to create a forest that resonates with the five senses, offering an inspiring experience to visitors.
Now, with the project's second anniversary approaching, a limited special edition photo book, "LOUIS VUITTON FOREST BOX," will be released. This package is filled with items that appeal to the senses, including the photo book by Mikael Takashima showcasing the four seasons of "The Forest of Louis Vuitton," a CD of original music by Ryuichi Sakamoto inspired by the forest, a watercolor painting of a forest by Patrick-Louis Vuitton, the fifth-generation head of the Louis Vuitton family, and wood chips and aroma mist evoking the scent of the forest. The proceeds from this sale will be fully donated to the project providing furniture to victims of theGreat East Japan Earthquakedisaster.
At the opening event held on the 28th, the day before the exhibition began, a live performance was presented by Austrian guitarist Christian Fennes, who has collaborated with Mr. Sakamoto. The music, inspired by "The Forest of Louis Vuitton," created an even more fantastical atmosphere in the venue adorned with powerful images of the forest. Mr. Sakamoto explained that this original song was composed while recalling the sounds and scents he experienced during his visit to "The Forest of Louis Vuitton," while looking at Mr. Takashima's photo book.
Additionally, a talk show was held with architect Shigeru Ban, who is collaborating with "more trees" on the project to provide furniture to disaster victims, and Mr. Sakamoto, where they exchanged opinions on the project's achievements and other topics.
At the Louis Vuitton Roppongi Hills store, large prints of Mr. Takashima's works have been on display since July 29th. The meticulously detailed depiction of the forest, captured with a large-format camera, is a must-see. "Mr. Takashima is a photographer who captured 'The Forest of Louis Vuitton' objectively, without excessive sentimentality," commented Mr. Sakamoto on his work. In the boutique, with its atmosphere dramatically transformed, you may even feel as though you are directly experiencing the immense power of the forest. You can experience this forest that has sprung up in Roppongi until August 31st.
LOUIS VUITTON FOREST PHOTO EXHIBITION by Mikael Takashima
Dates: July 29 (Fri) - August 31 (Wed)
Hours: 11:00-21:00 (Mon-Thu) / 11:00-23:00 (Fri-Sun)
Venue: Louis Vuitton Roppongi Hills Store
6-12-3 Roppongi Hills, Roppongi Keyakizaka-dori, Minato-ku, Tokyo
Tel. 03-3478-2100




