Many may feel they understand what the term Luxury means, though often we have a terribly difficult time trying to define it. Some may say that luxury is comfort, is pure quality, whilst others will say that it is a lack of worry and comfort. Perhaps it is a bit of both? Well, at the V&A Museum, a recent exhibition has opened discussing this idea, and it has been a wonderful treat.

With the increase in luxury brands and the promise of a luxury lifestyle in London, the city’s wealth has grown and has shepherded in designer labels and price tags to match. The show itself explores this, and explores the work of several artists, designers, and labels to decipher their interpretations of Luxury and how they portray that within their work.

Luxury is often seen as the mastery of a craft and the investment in the creation of a product. Whether that product be fashion, clockwork, or even metalwork, it is ambivalent. From China’s mastery of steel, to the growth of Silicon Valley, each individual within these realms has chosen a craft to study day and night in order to master. It is the end result of this toil and torment which creates what one can call a luxury product.

It is beautiful to see how luxury now plays such a big role in our lives. We choose chairs which are comfortable, and clothes which are made of beautiful fabrics, and this exhibition really questions this: what is luxury for us now, and what does it mean for the future? If we analyse current cultural trends, some may say that the move towards minimalism is luxurious, or perhaps it is the integration of useful and efficient technology to create more ease in both personal and professional lives.

My personal favourite of the exhibition? A carefully created light fitting made from the gentle heads of daffodils.

The exhibition remains open for one more week, so make sure if you’re in London to pop down and share your thoughts. Be luxurious.

Exhibition Details:

V&A South Kensington

Cromwell Road

London SW7 2RL