The Rimowa Store Ginza 7-chome, a new landmark that opened last December to mark the conclusion of the brand's 120th anniversary. Passing through the store, which is neatly lined with new and standard models, one steps up the stairs to the third floor, which has just been opened to the public, and there, of course, are a variety of Rimowa suitcases. But I had never seen any of them before. That's because all of the items on display here are from the archives of Rimowa's long history.

The exhibition, entitled "Rimowa Heritage Ginza," features about 30 products of various ages and designs. Some of the oldest suitcases date back more than 100 years, and the stately construction of these aged suitcases, which seem to convey the atmosphere of the time as it is today, makes us realize the historical background of the past, when people gradually shifted their travel from ships to trains.

The yellow lines on the floor and curved tables are reminiscent of an airport baggage claim, and the way they are presented also reflects the brand's core concept of "travel.

In the space in front of the exhibition, two artists were featured for the unveiling. USUGROW, who specializes in calligraphy and painting, and COLLIU, a model and creative artist, were chosen for the exhibition because of their different genders and styles. The exhibition was curated by Hidenori Matsuoka, editor-in-chief of the free magazine "Hidden Champion," which has delved into various art and street culture.

COLLIU's work is not so much about finishing a painting as it is about expressing it through the use of space. His style of painting flat figures and use of color can be seen as retro or modern. I thought it would be interesting to see her style, which is difficult to identify the historical background, in a historical exhibition such as this one," said Matsuoka. On the other hand, the reason for using Ms. USUGROW is as follows.

He painted calligraphy on the entire surface of the broken floor, which I thought was really cool. He made good use of the large space, and since he also plans his own exhibitions, he has a producer's point of view. I had high expectations that he would make good use of this space for the exhibition at Rimowa. Besides, calligraphy is the artist's original script, and it transcends the concept of national borders. I thought it would be a perfect fit for this brand, whose keyword is "suitcase travel.

And now, before the presentation of the project, Matsuoka-san looks happy in front of the finished work.

I wanted to create an image of a man and a woman, monochrome and colorful. I dared to ask two people with interesting contrasts to create an image like "the exotic feeling of travel," and I think it was the right choice. The finished product honestly exceeded my imagination, and I was very happy about that.

The words I have used here are also my own theme that I have held since long ago. Art and culture are like a traveler itself, spreading from place to place. It is the same with dance, letters, and songs, which will remain even if they are suppressed or erased from history. I believe that this is closer to the truth than books written by influential people of the time. So it is not so much that I was inspired by the offer, but rather that the idea had been in my mind for a long time. The word "border" does not only refer to national borders, but also to areas and even to the boundaries between people. My theme is to cross all of them. I always want to feel flat, so it doesn't feel strange at all that my work is being exhibited in Ginza, a place I don't usually have any connection with (laughs).

COLLIU, on the other hand, explains his participation in this project. Many of the hair and makeup artists I meet when I work with models have been using Rimowa trunks for a long time, so I have a strong image of Rimowa as something sturdy and functional that can withstand hard use. So I have a strong image of Rimowa trunks as sturdy and functional, able to withstand hard use. When customizing suitcases, the use of stickers is a very common practice, but I thought it would be interesting to use this idea to decorate the walls as well, linking them to the suitcases. I myself love to travel, and this year I traveled to Italy and France, and I often go abroad for modeling work. When I travel, there are always landscapes and cultures that are different from my own everyday life, so I often get inspiration from the colors, architecture, and large spaces of these places. Rather than being directly applied to my work, I feel that these experiences inform my thinking and perspectives.

The 100-year-old trunks lined up next to them have completed their role for the time being, but their legacy will surely bring something to the artists who stand next to them, looking to the future. Rimowa's journey linking the present and the past is surely not over yet.