Renowned Japanese artist Takashi Murakami has unveiled a spectacular monumental installation featuring a giant octopus sculpture under the glass roof of the Grand Palais for Art Basel Paris 2025. The collaboration marks the third consecutive year that luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has partnered with the contemporary art fair as an associate partner, presenting the seventh edition of their Artycapucines collection through Murakami's distinctive artistic vision.
The centerpiece of the installation is an impressive eight-meter-tall octopus sculpture that functions as both a sculptural work and an illuminated lantern, creating a dramatic focal point that envelops the Louis Vuitton stand. This striking piece continues Murakami's ongoing exploration of octopus imagery, which has been a recurring motif in his work since his 2017 piece "The Octopus Eats Its Own Leg." The collaboration represents a significant reunion between Murakami and Louis Vuitton, marking more than twenty years since their first iconic partnership that revolutionized the luxury fashion world.
Located on the Balcon d'Honneur, the scenography transforms the entire space into a luminous aquarium filled with psychedelic colors and otherworldly atmospheres. The floor design features intricate tentacular patterns that extend and complement the silhouette of the octopus-lantern, creating a cohesive visual narrative throughout the space. The octopus head is adorned with Murakami's characteristic "Jellyfish Eyes," those floating, bulbous eyes that have become synonymous with his artistic style, evoking feelings that oscillate between fascination and unease.
Surrounding the central sculpture, eleven Capucines handbags have been reimagined and redesigned by Murakami, each incorporating his iconic visual codes and signature aesthetic elements. The artist has also included three plush sphere sculptures, known as "Plush Balls," which he originally created in the 1990s as part of his artistic repertoire. The most recognizable of these spheres is the "Multicolor Plush Ball" from 2008, which serves as a display platform for the Capubloom and Capucines East West Rainbow bag models.
A new addition to the installation is the specially created "Cherry Blossom Plush Ball" (2025), which pays homage to the traditional Japanese cherry blossom and serves as a backdrop for several previously unseen creations in the collection. This piece demonstrates Murakami's continued connection to his Japanese heritage while maintaining his contemporary pop art sensibility. The exhibition culminates with a show-stopping panda-shaped handbag that is entirely covered in rhinestones, serving as a playful nod to Murakami's pop art spirit and whimsical approach to luxury fashion.
The installation represents a masterful blend of high fashion and contemporary art, showcasing how luxury brands continue to push creative boundaries through artistic collaborations. The psychedelic aquarium atmosphere created by Murakami transforms the traditional art fair experience into an immersive environment that challenges visitors' perceptions of both art and fashion. This partnership between Louis Vuitton and Murakami demonstrates the ongoing evolution of the Artycapucines collection, which has become a prestigious platform for contemporary artists to reinterpret the iconic handbag design through their unique artistic perspectives.
