The definition and history of luxury will be scrutinised at a special exhibition, due to take place at London’s Victoria and Albert Museum from April 25 – September 27, 2015.
The What is Luxury? Exhibition will showcase exceptional examples of contemporary design and craftsmanship alongside conceptual projects that are expected to challenge preconceived ideas of luxury, its production and future.
Highlights will include a diamond made from roadkill, a vending machine stocked with DNA, a golden crown for ecclesiastical use and traditional military tailoring. Over 100 objects will be used to address how luxury is made and understood in a physical, conceptual and cultural capacity.
On display: Diamonds, emeralds and rubies set into a gold crown with rococo scrolls (circa 1750)
Seemingly unrelated objects will be juxtaposed and presented alongside luxury-related terminology to facilitate discussions around the interpretation of luxury. For example, bowls by the artist Chung Hae-Cho (created entirely through building up multiple layers of lacquer) will be placed alongside a menswear ensemble by designer Carol Christian Poell, known for his devotion to critically examining and perfecting techniques of tailoring.
“As its title suggests, the exhibition questions the very idea of luxury today. It will challenge common interpretations of luxury, invite close examination of luxury production and extend ideas of what luxury can be. Essentially, the question of luxury is a personal one,” said Jana Scholze, V&A curator of contemporary furniture.
"What is Luxury?' is the third in a series of joint V&A and Crafts Council, following Out of the Ordinary in 2007 and The Power of Making in 2011. The free exhibition will take place in the Porter Gallery during the V&A's regular opening times - daily from 10.00am to 5.45pm and until 10.00pm on Fridays.
On display: Re-materialisation of systems, El Ultimo Grito, 2014