Some say it looks like a flying saucer. Some say it looks like a spaceship. Both are pretty accurate in describing Mobile Chanel, a 7,500 square foot "art pavilion" set to travel from Hong Kong, Tokyo, New York, London Moscow and Paris.2005 was the year that Chanel celebrated its 50th anniversary of the quilted hand bag. Chanel’s designer, Karl Lagerfeld, issued a new version of the hand bag along along with a project that took seven years to come to fruition.
Renowned London architect Zaha Hadid created the Mobile Chanel Contemporary Art Container using computer software. This donut shaped structure has a central courtyard and is made of 7.38 feet wide, lightweight panels that can be packed into 51 shippable containers. The challenge, she said, was to create a pavilion that was both visually compelling and could be easily transported.
Mobile Chanel, which featured the works of about 15 contemporary artists each of which were asked to create a piece that was somehow inspired by Chanel’s classic 2.55 quilted-style chain handbag, (named by its February 1955 debut).
“The most important piece of art is the container itself.” - Karl Lagerfeld
“It’s like an alien spacecraft that lands in the park and, before you know it, takes off again.”- Adrian Benepe, NY City Department of parks
“I like the idea that the pavilion lands, creates a buzz and disappears.” - Zaha Hadid
“We could have inundated the world with ads, but it is a more noble project.”-Karl Lagerfeld
