Likening luxury accessories and designer products to high-end art is nothing new; in fact, most style aficionados who own an Hermès handbag will readily agree that their bag is akin to, if not better than, a high-value piece of art.
Hermès has earned this level of respect through a combination of notable collaborations and timeless designs, not to mention the exceptional craftsmanship that bolsters each and every piece created by the brand.
But how does the Hermès brand directly connect to and contribute towards the creation of art, and what are some of the finest examples of Hermès handbags in art? In this article, we’re sharing just some of the ways that Hermès handbags form and support art installations, including art that mimics the design of Hermès creations, and gallery shows that use Hermès handbags as part of the display.
Hermès Handbags as Art
What better way to kickstart a look at Hermès handbags and their link with the art world than by sharing a little more about a famous Hermès Birkin bag owned by Kim Kardashian. As one of the most notable fans of the brand, with countless authentic Hermès handbags in her collection, the bag that we are talking about was gifted to her by Kanye West during their marriage, and features a hand-painted design from artist George Condo.
Another example of an Hermès handbag that presents as art is Paris Hilton’s custom-enhanced bag, which is crafted in bright pink with tens of thousands of Swarovski crystals adorning its design.
As part of this, we can also consider some of the brand’s own collaborations – some of which are not limited to the handbag collection but rather extend into Hermès’ other collections and luxury goods. The Hermès éditeur collection is one that connects Hermès with leading artists, who each create their own unique design on an Hermès scarf. The Hermès scarf has become as much a staple of the brand as its handbags, with the first silk scarves being produced in 1937 as a way of exploring more colour and unique designs than can be printed on the canvas of a bag. Over the years, these scarves have enjoyed countless artistic partnerships and enhancements, with some of the artists including Kermit Oliver, Josef Albers, and Hiroshi Sugimoto.
Safe to say, the Hermès brand is no stranger to the world of art. But how have Hermès handbags been used to enhance and breathe life into art installations?
An Exhibition Using Hermès Handbags
An exhibition in 2020 was uniquely designed to shine a spotlight on the link between high art and luxury creations, and was named ‘The Art of Hermès’.
The exhibition took 10 luxury Hermès handbags, and 10 works of art from well-known artists, including Andy Warhol and Christo, pairing them up to create direct contrasts and connections between the two iterations of artistic grandeur.
In order to create pairings and connect the bags with the different paintings and pieces of art, the exhibition curators found links in the colour palettes as well as the textures and subject matters themselves. The idea is not to transform or change the bags in any way, but rather to find ways of linking bags with pieces of art, in a way that sparks conversation about everything from artistic inspiration and influence to the use of colour and paint strokes to generate texture.
This exhibition ran for a limited time until December 2020, and was geared towards selling the art, while using the bags to tell a story about the links between luxury goods and ornate artwork. The takeaway? An Hermès bag is a piece of art in itself, once you consider the manpower and craftsmanship that goes into each and every creation.
Hermès as Part of On-Screen Art: Popular Culture References
While on the subject of Hermès as a form of art in itself, we can’t ignore the countless times that Hermès has been referenced and that Hermès bags have been seen as part of the artistic presentation of characters on TV and in movies.
One of the most famous examples is in Sex and the City, which is already iconic for its high fashion and exceptional style, and which references the Hermès brand more than once. Both times, it is Samantha at the centre of the storyline, showcasing the character’s desire for and love of high fashion – with an Hermès Birkin the subject of her covet. In one example, the bag with a “five year wait” is simply explained away as “a Birkin” – in the other, Samantha’s authentic Birkin is broken when a shopkeeper calls it fake.
Other examples of Hermès handbags on screen include in the movie The Proposal and in Blue Jasmine – all examples of how the Hermès name, as well as the quality of the bags, have been used to support storylines and contribute towards character development.
Why Hermès Remains Such a Coveted Brand Among Buyers and Investors
To say that Hermès is a brand that is embedded in the world of art is almost an understatement. Not only have Hermès bags been used in direct art installations, but other Hermès products have been enhanced through artistic collaborations, and creators around the world have used Hermès bags and the brand name to enhance their characters and storylines.
As one of the most sought-after brands in the world, Hermès has become a brand favoured by the wealthy – making it a symbol of status as well as high fashion and design flair. Every bag that is made boasts an incredible following, so much so that the demand for every new model bag far outweighs the supply, serving to elevate the status, and therefore the price tag, even higher.
What’s more, Hermès bags make for a great investment, provided that buyers protect their purchase by getting all the relevant authentication checks and a formal valuation completed in advance of their purchase.
If owning your own Hermès bag is on your list of resolutions for the new year, then be sure to visit our boutique store in Knightsbridge.
