BAGGING FOR AN EXPRESSION

Luxury handbags have become the canvas of choice for artists and art-lovers alike. Are they a new form of collectible art?

- AARON KOK

After the adrenalin rush and joy that comes with the purchase of a new bag fades away, for many of us, our beloved purses take on a different role.

Beyond the colour of the leather or the fanciful handle design, we need our bags to work for us. They ought to be practical enough to carry our daily essentials, versatile enough that they can be worn with a variety of clothing, and durable enough that if we're a little clumsy at times it wouldn't result in heartbreaking damage.

Yet in the converging paths of art and fashion, it seems like our bags have found a new role for themselves. For a select few clients, they have become carte blanche for artists to freely express their creative geniuses upon. They've evolved beyond mere accessories of purpose.

Each year, the House of Dior chooses new artists to create exceptional bag-meets-artwork creations under the Dior Lady Art marquee. Past editions of Dior Lady Art has seen the iconic Lady Dior bag reimagined with woven embroidery, oversized fabric bows and miniature paintings.

Meanwhile at Louis Vuitton, the brand continues to deepen its ties with the celebrated architect Frank Gehry. Unveiled last December at Art Basel Miami Beach, the showcase invited audiences to explore Gehry’s long-standing collaboration with the French House, including his famous Twisted Box, and the debut of a line of limited edition handbags under the “Louis Vuitton x Frank Gehry” tag. From painted lambskin pieced together to resemble abstract blue flowers, to the iconic Capucines bag that recalls Gehry’s penchant for curving walls and angular shapes in his architecture projects, these rare pieces presented the best of Gehry’s repertoire with the revered skills of Louis Vuitton’s artisans.