by
Credit: Hermes
The shopfront windows of Hermes Liat Towers has been transformed into an utterly delightful and witty showcase of French contemporary artist Matthieu Cross’s imagination. Inspired by the maison’s 2024 theme, The Spirit of the Faubourg, this collaborative installation is a reinterpretation of the house’s historic Rue du Faubourg address into an intriguing game of chess.
Named Checkmate At The Faubourg, it features lively, colourful hand-painted chess pieces referencing the architectural and decorative elements of the world-famous boutique at 24 Rue du Faubourg Saint-Honoré in the heart of the stylish 8th Arrondissement of Paris.
A whimsical wonderland of colours and references from Hermes’ Rue du Faubourg store (Credit: Hermes)
Dating back to 1880, the location used to house the workshops of the company, which began as a harness maker. It was not until 1889 that a retail store was opened, with its footprint expanded further into the adjacent building in 1978, and enlarged again in 2007. Until today, the address has remained Hermes‘ global flagship, famed as a beacon of luxury whose captivating windows draw shoppers from near and far.
Even if you’ve never visited this landmark, you could always experience a slice of its whimsical wonders from Orchard Road. Through the glass, the surreal landscape of a sublime sunrise in Paris unfolds. Here, the Faubourg shopfloor morphs into a checkerboard, while the statue of a horse-mounted artificer (fireworks-maker) on the building’s rooftop now takes the form of the Bishop, and his horse, the Knight. The store’s decorative balusters have become the Pawns. The installation runs until end of August.
A whimsical wonderland of colours and references from Hermes’ Rue du Faubourg store (Credit: Hermes)
This artistic collaboration with Matthieu Cosse, who is renowned for his skills as a painter, illustrator and draftsman, isn’t Hermes‘ first. Since 2018, he has been invited by the maison to lend his creative touch to various objects ranging from beach towels to enamel and silk scarves. In 2021, he was also commissioned to paint a wall mural entitled L’Odyssée d’Hermes at the brand’s Rue de Sèvres boutique in the left bank of Paris.
