francois-schuiten-mars-louis-vuitton-travel-book-philippe-labaune-gallery-nyc
François Schuiten, Day 100, 2021. © Courtesy of Philippe Labaune Gallery

François Schuiten: A Graphic Novel Journey to Mars

NOVEMBER 10, 2022-JANUARY 14, 2023

Philippe Labaune Gallery
534 West 24th Street
New York, NY 10011

What would a trip to Mars look like? This was the question faced by Francois Schuiten and Sylvain Tesson at the beginning of the pandemic. As travel became virtual, the renowned Belgian graphic-novel artist and the daredevil French adventure writer were missioned by Louis Vuitton to produce a new type of travel book: one that would take the reader on an imaginary voyage to the Red Planet.

The resulting illustrations, acrylic and crayon works depicting the stages of the journey from takeoff to landing, exploring, and the birth of a dome-shaped colony, are on display at the Philippe Labaune Gallery in New York City. « Brought up by his father to study architecture, [Schuiten] conveys his love for building and design through a nostalgic lens swaying between the realms of dreams and reality, » says Labaune, a highly-regarded comic art specialist hailing from France. « Among his influences are the sci-fi fantasies of Jules Verne, the playfully mischievous work of Winsor McCay, and the architectural visions of Art Nouveau architect Victor Horta. »

Mark your calendar: The opening reception will take place on November 10 from 6:30-9 pm.

By France-Amérique