[LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Japan LLC] LVMH Métiers
d’Artist-in-Residence 9th Annual: Artist/Animator Shu Yonezawa Presents “Scars of Light” Image
URL: LVMH Moët Hennessy Louis Vuitton Japan LLC Press Release: September 9, 2025 LVMH Métiers d’Art presents “Scars of Light,” a series of new works by artist/animator Shu Yonezawa, the 9th Artist-in-Residence. Works exhibited at Kuroki Co., Ltd., a denim fabric manufacturer in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture
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headquarters in Ibara City on Tuesday, September 9th, and open to the local community on Wednesday, September 10th. The works will also be officially unveiled on an international stage with an exhibition in Paris in October 2025. Yonezawa creates works across a wide range of media, including animation, media art, painting, and video. During this residency, he deeply explored Kuroki’s sophisticated
craftsmanship, including indigo dyeing, intricate weaving design, and weaving on vintage shuttle looms. At the same time, he also drew inspiration from the natural environment and water resources unique to Ibara, expanding his creative endeavors. Furthermore, Yonezawa was greatly inspired by the alignment of the planets he witnessed at Bisei Astronomical Observatory and the jellyfish he encountered in the Seto Inland Sea. Through these experiences, Yonezawa deepened his perspective on denim, viewing it not simply as a clothing material, but shedding light on the craftsmanship and stories inherent within it. At Kuroki, Yonezawa was particularly interested in the evolution of denim distressing techniques. While in the past, denim “flaws” reflected the wearer’s life’s traces, today they are commonly replicated using computers and laser processing. Yonezawa finds this phenomenon profoundly meaningful, and, inspired by Walter Benjamin’s theory of the lost aura discussed in “The Work of Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction,” he reinterpreted denim as “a medium that is repeatedly reproduced yet constantly takes on new expressions.” In this project, rather than creating a finished product such as jeans, I approached denim fabric as a soft yet strong “universe,” expressing the “scratches of light” as living, breathing entities. Each piece evokes personal memories and encounters in the viewer, urging them to nurture these traces of light as “proof of existence.” Yonezawa Shu had this to say about the residency: “Over the past six months, I’ve encountered countless new things and had the opportunity to see the world from different angles. Exploring new landscapes and immersing myself in the rhythms of the Kuroki factory was refreshing and stimulating. I was drawn to the concept of ‘scars,’ and also to the theme of ‘voice.’ The sounds of the shuttle looms, the ambient sounds, and the changing scenery all overlapped and resonated as a single ‘voice.’ This experience expanded beyond my denim work to include sound pieces and character creation, leading to an attempt to explore the ‘voice’ of Kuroki itself. I’d like to express my sincere gratitude to LVMH Métiers d’Art and everyone at Kuroki for their support. This residency has enriched not only my artistic vision, but my very soul.” style=”font-size:16px;line-height:28px;padding:0;word-break:break-all;”> Jean-Baptiste Voisin, Chief Strategy Officer of the LVMH Group and Founder of LVMH Métiers d’Art, said: “This residency was an extremely valuable opportunity to combine traditional Japanese craftsmanship with contemporary art. I am incredibly proud that the combination of Yonezawa’s innovative approach and Kuroki’s expertise has resulted in works that elevate denim to the art form.” Yonezawa Shu’s residency follows a previous Artist in Residence in 2023-2024, in which Josefa Cham created metal sculptures at the France-Portugal-based metal manufacturer Jade Groupe. The initiative demonstrates LVMH Métiers d’Art’s ongoing support for the development of emerging artists and innovative approaches to traditional crafts, while also highlighting the vibrant evolution of Japan’s art scene. LVMH Métiers
d’Artist-in-Residence: Special Screening of Shu Yonezawa’s “Scars of Light” Date and Time: Wednesday, September 10, 2025, 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM Venue: Kuroki Co., Ltd. Head Office (5560 Nishiebaru-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture) Admission Fee: Free Special Cooperation: Towa Co., Ltd., Miki Embroidery Crafts, Takaya Shoji Co., Ltd. Project External Contributor: “Artist in Residence” Director Miho Saito LVMH Métiers d’Art Since its founding in 2015, LVMH Métiers d’Art has We operate as a community spanning five continents. It’s a global network of forward-thinking manufacturers and artisans fostering innovation, enabling significant emissions reductions and streamlining of production processes, all while maintaining a constant focus on sustainability. We bring together suppliers with rich traditions and world-class expertise in the luxury industry, including leather tanning, livestock farming, printing, metalworking, and textile and fabric production. When it comes to cowhide and sheepskin, LVMH Métiers d’Art has presences in France, Italy, and Spain. For raw materials, LVMH partnered with Domaine des Massifs for livestock farming. For leather tanning and finishing, it partnered with Les Tanneries Roux, Mazzoni, and Riva Guixat to secure a supply of the finest calfskin and lambskin. For leather ready-to-wear sewing, it invested in Robance, which boasts advanced expertise. Similar efforts have been made with exotic leathers. LVMH Métiers d’Art has
established a network of “Animal Welfare”-certified facilities in Africa, Australia, and the United States to ensure traceability of animal husbandry. LVMH also acquired Heng Long Leather (Singapore, Italy), an internationally recognized specialist in crocodile leather tanning and finishing. LVMH also acquired a majority stake in Verde Veleno, a Valencia, Spain-based company with leading expertise in lizard and python tanning. LVMH Métiers d’Art has also partnered with Menegatti, GBJM, and Jade, manufacturers based in Europe and Asia who supply luxury houses with the finest metal pieces. Furthermore, in December 2022, LVMH Métiers d’Art Japan was established as its base of operations in Japan, and in April 2023, the company entered into its first partnership in Japan with Kuroki Co., Ltd., a denim fabric manufacturer in Okayama Prefecture, known as one of the world’s leading denim production regions. Kuroki Co., Ltd. Founded in 1950 as Kuroki Orimono in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture. The company began manufacturing and selling denim in the 1960s, leading the way in improving the quality of Japanese denim, which has now become a global brand, and in the development of the industry. Currently based in Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture, where the company was founded, the company produces high-quality denim materials and products by carrying out all processes in-house, from dyeing and weaving to finishing, while coexisting with the rich natural environment blessed with pure water. Head Office: 5560 Nishiehara-cho, Ibara City, Okayama Prefecture Representative: Tatsushi Kuroki For more information, please visit http://www.denim-kuroki.co.jp. Hiragi Yonezawa Hiragi Yonezawa is a 26-year-old emerging artist and animator known for his work exploring the intersection of digital and physical reality. Yonezawa’s multimedia works, including video, 2D pieces, and installations, delve into the ghostly bodies of anime characters, capturing the ephemeral emotional and atmospheric spaces they inhabit. He also embraces the idea that digital animation, real-life creatures, and the human soul are one and the same, even neighborly. Yonezawa’s work, including his “Obake’s Screenshots” series, tackles fundamental questions of life and death and the circularity of existence, especially in the digital realm. By revealing the subtle textures and afterimages of animation, Yonezawa breathes life into his digital works, seeking to offer comfort to those struggling to navigate the complexities of modern society. Watching an anime that simply exists within the scenery is like seeing yourself in front of you. His selection as an Artist in Residence has further broadened Yonezawa’s creative practice.
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