• Metropolis, Wednesday, December 20, 2006 11:45 AM

The concept of brand icon takes on new meaning in an exhibit in which nine artists, architects and designers apply their own visionary approach to nine of Louis Vuitton's bags. Hosted by Espace Louis Vuitton, the "Icons" exhibition is at the dedicated gallery space in the Louis Vuitton flagship store in Paris through December 31.

Zaha Hadid is the star of the show, and her commissioned work here keeps with her usual exhibition themes--monochromatic white pedestals swoop up to present her redesign of the "Bucket" purse, while also serving as sleek chairs. Hadid's graceful design does the most for the "LV" logo by morphing from one dimension to three with a seamless rotation of the bag.

Reflecting Louis Vuitton's old-money charms, Paris' grand dame of interior design, Andrée Putnam, floated her "Steamer" bag above a shower of glittering gold "LV" logos via hot air balloon. Classy, refined and beautifully executed, Putnam's redesign does what a timeless logo should do--float above the fray.

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