Lanvin Taps Contemporary Artist Erwin Wurm for Second Edition of Lanvin Lab

For the second inaugural edition of Lanvin Lab, the French fashion house has enlisted contemporary artist Erwin Wurm to design a large-scale sculpture.

Wurm has become known for art that anthropomorphizes everyday objects, transforming them into playful figures. Entitled Desire, the sculpture depicts two of Lanvin’s signature items – the Pencil Cat Bag and the Cash sneaker – the first as the body of an anthropomorphized figure and the latter as the base, stemming from a pair of long legs. Wurm describes the work as inspired by the concept of layering in sculpture and fashion alike.

In the coming months, Desire will travel throughout public spaces in China. Following its debut in Beijing, it’ll be shown in Shanghai, Nanjing, Chengdu, Shenzhen and Shenyang.

“Sculptures often consist only of a thin layer. It’s this layer that captivates me, often serving as the final touch that renders an object complete,” Wurm said. “This outer layer dictates the perception of both objects and ourselves as humans.”

“We use clothing as a layer – be it garments, shoes, or accessories – to portray a specific image to the world around us. It’s a recurring subject in my work, and it’s a pleasure to be able to connect these ideas with contemporary clothing objects from Lanvin.”

Lanvin Lab launched in 2023 with a collection designed by Future. Each year, the brand invites creatives to experiment and express Lanvin in their own vision.