Against Louis Vuitton

Excuse me if you're a Louis Vuitton fan. Not a brand maniac by any stretch, I'd buy a fancy clothing item if I think it's worth the money--who doesn't like an elegant dress, or a stylish pair of shoes? There're even brands I have a soft spot for, like Vivienne Westwood and Jean Paul Gaultier, for their creativity.

Louis Vuitton, however, gets on my nerves. For my lack of knowledge of the brand's history, philosophy or catalogue, I totally fail to see the charm or chemistry in Louis Vuitton. When I walk down the streets of Hong Kong, I see bland and square looking handbags made of plastic (or is it PVC - or what's that material?) and monotonous personalities. What designers could come up with such uninspired - ugly - designs is beyond my understanding. One of the most sickening poster ads I've ever seen in Hong Kong shows a handful of Louis Vuitton purses piled up neatly on a tray held by a waiter. I'd have thought we had enough servings of Louis Vuitton in this town - it's no way for young people to grow up here, being force fed these doses of vanity and materialism.

Here comes the stroke that's beyond the understanding of most art lovers in Hong Kong: a 'special exhibition' by Louis Vuitton at the Hong Kong Museum of Art. Supposedly it's part of the Le French May program, and it features works by 'European, American and Chinese artists' that 'reflect an energetic urban culture, leading to fictional landscapes located somewhere between dreams and adventure.' The entry fee is HK$30 - higher than pretty much all other shows at the venue - and the free admission on Wednesdays or weekly pass do not apply to this show.

Just why does Louis Vuitton or the Consulate General of France has to be so cheap, I have no idea. Or is it the museum that has to make money because they invested in the show--Oh yes, HK$5.9 million of taxpayers' money 'only', the government said, on the top of HK$14 million Louis Vuitton put in. Do we work to pay for the publicity campaign of a high fashion brand? Who's responsible for the curation of art in our museums--who made the calls to run this show, and to reject the many other proposals for more worthy, much less costy shows by local artists?

To think about the cultural values are they preaching to Hong Kong people--it's the same sickness as that poster ad which hung outside the Harbor City, only it has now moved along the stretch of shopping malls in Tsim Sha Tsui, into a government arts premise by the promenade. There it greets all the local residents and tourists, families with small children, young couples... What are we going to get from the development of art in Hong Kong - the ever elusive West Cultural Cultural District, to be realized in the future - if the government is engaged in such shady deals today?

To petition against the show, sign here.