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The Week in Art
podcast

Yayoi Kusama and Louis Vuitton: the enduring allure of art and luxury

Plus, Michael Rakowitz's ambitious restitution plans and Rosy Martin's photographical iconostasis

Sponsored by
Hosted by Ben Luke. Produced by David Clack and Aimee Dawson
27 January 2023
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A large inflatable mannequin depicting Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama decorating the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton flagship store on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris

Photo: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

A large inflatable mannequin depicting Japanese contemporary artist Yayoi Kusama decorating the French luxury brand Louis Vuitton flagship store on the Champs-Elysees avenue in Paris

Photo: Emmanuel DUNAND / AFP

The Week in Art

From breaking news and insider insights to exhibitions and events around the world, the team at The Art Newspaper picks apart the art world’s big stories with the help of special guests. An award-winning podcast hosted by Ben Luke.

This week: as robotic figures of the Japanese artist Yayoi Kusama appear in windows of Louis Vuitton stores in New York, London and Tokyo, Ben Luke talks to Federica Carlotto, a specialist in art and luxury, about the latest collaboration between Kusama and the LVMH brand. What does it tell us about what the former creative director of Louis Vuitton, Marc Jacobs, called the “monumental marriage between art and commerce”?

Art Market Eye

Kusama and Louis Vuitton: Who is signing on the (polka) dotted line for artist's mega-brand deals?

Georgina Adam

Left to right: Lamassus from the North-West Palace in the British Museum / Michael Rakowitz's The Invisible Enemy Should Not Exist (2018)

Photo: Dr. Osama Shukir Muhammed Amin / Garry Knight

Also this week, the artist Michael Rakowitz hopes to give a public sculpture he made for Trafalgar Square in London to Tate Modern and an Iraqi institution. He explains how it prompted Iraq to request the return of one of the lamassu, the ancient Assyrian sculptures that inspired Rakowitz’s work, from the British Museum to its country of origin. You can listen to our interview with Rakowitz on our sister podcast A brush with... here.

Rosy Martin in collaboration with Verity Welstead's I didn't put myself down for sainthood (1. installed work) (2018)


© Rosy Martin and Verity Welstead, courtesy Rosy Martin

And this episode’s Work of the Week is I didn’t put myself down for sainthood (2018), a piece made by Rosy Martin in collaboration with Verity Welstead. The photographic ensemble is in the opening displays of the new Centre of British Photography in London. We speak to James Hyman, the art dealer, collector and co-founder of the centre, about the work.

The Week in ArtYayoi KusamaLouis VuittonLuxury goodsMichael RakowitzRestitutionTate ModernBritish MuseumContemporary artContemporary Photography
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