Louis Vuitton Launch Double Exposure With Sam Taylor-Wood

Louis Vuitton launched ‘Double Exposure’ last night an innovative
digital film project that encapsulates one of the world’s oldest and most authentic image making techniques with contemporary on-line distribution.

The first execution in the series, featuring globally respected conceptual artist and filmmaker Sam Taylor-Wood, was launched with a private view last night, held at Louis Vuitton Maison in London, New Bond Street.

‘Double Exposure’ will reveal two facets of each individual subject. Firstly, personal insights captured on film, via some treasured possessions relating to memories and stories. The second is a photographic exposure brought to life in a uniquely sophisticated portrait.

Inspired by Louis Vuitton’s belief in embracing the contemporary and avant-garde, whilst respecting and supporting authentic craftsmanship, the project invites cultural innovators and creative leaders: artists, filmmakers, and performers to sit for an individual portrait using the 19th century collodion wet plate photographic process.

Amidst the frenetic hustle and bustle of the modern consumer landscape one of the key creative objectives for Louis Vuitton was to slow things down, and take a moment to capture the true essence of the sitter, in order to create something that was unique, exclusive and timeless.

In an ‘on-demand’ digital age where new images are created faster and more frequently than ever before, ‘Double Exposure’ was envisioned and commissioned by Louis Vuitton as a counterbalance to today’s disposable media culture. This age old photographic process is a luxurious and languid medium that depicts time standing still.

The mercurial collodion process requires the sitter to hold a pose for 12 seconds, engaging both the subject and the viewer, with the resulting image being at once strong, intense, captivating and ethereal.

Of the experience Sam Taylor Wood says, “It’s a beautifully slow, arduous and a painstaking process, and I like that. I like the difference between this and how speedy everything is today, including the way we take pictures.”

In addition to the bespoke photographic wet plate images – each of which is a ‘one off’, ‘Double Exposure’ also documents the sitter with some of their most treasured personal objects. Once again these possessions are emotional anchors reflecting a poignant antidote to the transient world that so often surrounds us.

In this first ‘Double Exposure’, Sam Taylor-Wood shares an intimate and diverse collection of belongings, including an inspirational book by pop artist Andy Warhol, a postcard image of Francis Bacon that connects Sam with her home in London’s Primrose Hill, and a cheeky memento from her directorial feature film debut – ‘Nowhere Boy’.

The films also outline a thoughtful value system that shows us that luxury objects do not have to hold significant monetary value in order to be priceless to their owner. The importance of personalisation and provenance are also clearly evident as the films convey a rare insight into some of the sitter’s inner thoughts and memories.

You can see more films at: Louis Vuitton Double Exposure