kiki van eijk: Hermès windows at bijenkorf amsterdam

Hermès windows by kiki van eijk at bijenkorf amsterdam all photos by frank tielemans

french fashion company Hermès has been calling on international designers to create window displays for their stores to promote their line of products in an artistic way. there is japanese studio nendo who has envisioned ‘wandering forest‘ for the company, whereby cut-outs of trees act as a means for displaying handbags, scarves and other accessories for Hermès’ sogo yokohama and takashimaya tokyo department stores in japan.

now, eindhoven-based studio kiki van eijk has conceived five different vitrines for the luxury brand, on view within the windows of high-end department store bijenkorf amsterdam. given carte blanche to express the Hermès line in the manner that she wanted, kiki decided to express her vision through the brand’s 2012 theme ‘the gift of time’. each of the individual showcases represents a different way of interpreting time. ‘time is even more precious now than before. it’s the biggest jewel you can have. why not juggle with time? and show the different aspects of it! it’s just how you look at it, and it’s all about your perception of time,’ says kiki. the windows draw on the philosophy and history of Hermès. the backdrops of each display along with the two-dimensional figures, have been finished in a painterly, watercolor effect exhibiting a fantastical and surreal aesthetic reminiscent of alice in wonderland, in contrast to the classic forms and shapes of the Hermès line.

a frog prince hides in a golden field, while a man on stilts juggles his balance

circus acts and acrobats…

details of the vitrine display

rolling green hills and a courtly white rabbit

detail

heads are replaced with clocks – it’s all about your perception of time

detail