Chanello! Mobile Art

What do you think of when you hear "Chanel"? The two C's logo right? What do you think of when you hear the words, "Chanel Purse"? The quilted chain strap purse most likely.

Well Mr. Karl Lagerfield must think a majority of the public to consider the quilted chain strap purse to be synonymous with Chanel when he came up with his most recent project Chanel Mobile Art. Karl took the idea that fashion spreads throughout the world and personally commissioned architect, Zaha-Hadid, to design a collapsible pod that could travel to each continent to showcase the exhibit. This futuristic structure is called the Art Container and will host 20 contemporary artists' work inspired by Chanel’s classic 2.55 quilted-style chain handbag.

So far, the pod has been to Tokyo and Hong Kong. Lucky for us Americans, Chanel has landed, right in the middle of Central Park. Opening today, free of charge (however, you must book a timed ticket!) anyone in the area can see these fantastic interpretations of the quilted handbag as a cultural icon. It will be here only until November 9th, before the pod collapses again and heads off to London.

So does fashion inspire art? Or at least inspire us to run into a spaceship in Central Park to see both? Mr. Lagerfield put it well when he said, “Art is art. Fashion is fashion,” Mr. Lagerfeld said. “However, Andy Warhol proved that they can exist together.”