Gucci Bamboo: Decoding an Icon unveils the legacy of the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag. Curated and designed by 2050+, the exhibition offers visitors a deep dive into the House’s archives, exploring the evolution of this timeless piece and celebrating its enduring allure.
Since its inception in its eponymous year, the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag has remained an enduring symbol of the House. Drawing inspiration from the world of equestrianism, its silhouette and materials echo the refined craftsmanship of leather saddles, while its signature curved bamboo handle — both its namesake and defining feature — pays tribute to the bamboo walking sticks once favored by Guccio Gucci’s son.
Though the bag’s form and materials have evolved under the vision of successive creative directors, its distinctive handle remains unchanged, bridging past and present. Today, the House’s artisans in Florence, Italy, continue to shape each bamboo handle by hand over an open flame, preserving the legendary curvature and artistry behind an icon of the House’s bag collection.
Bamboo holds profound cultural significance, particularly in China, where it has long symbolised humbleness, nobility, and perseverance—values deeply embedded in art, literature, and philosophy. Hosted at Sunke Villa in Shanghai, Gucci Bamboo: Decoding an Icon pays tribute to this heritage while exploring bamboo’s transformation from a natural material into a medium of artistic and design innovation.
Alongside the craftsmanship on display, the exhibition features a curated selection of works by artists Sybil Montet, Francesco D’Abbraccio (aka Lorem), Christian Kondić, and Chen Yanran, each offering a visionary reinterpretation of the bag’s legacy, projecting its timeless essence into the future.
Through a combination of archival materials, immersive installations, and artistic collaborations, Gucci Bamboo: Decoding an Icon showcases the lasting appeal of this masterpiece across seven distinct rooms, each exploring a unique aspect of its history and influence.
The Whispering Grove
Bamboo, a perennial symbol of resilience and renewal, spans continents and cultures, with more than 1,600 species found across the world. This room reimagines the connection between bamboo and artistic expression, immersing viewers in a suspended bamboo installation where nature and craftsmanship intertwine. Living plants blend with historical botanical illustrations, while an evocative AI-generated video by artist Christian Kondić animates the organic beauty of bamboo, bringing its presence to life.
Anatomy of a Bag
Meticulously crafted, the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag is brought to life through a precise 13-hour process, with 428 steps expertly executed by the House’s artisans. This room deconstructs the bag’s intricate construction, presenting its elements as if in an anatomical study. A table-like display lays bare every carefully considered detail, while an interactive periscope-like device invites visitors to take a closer look at the textures, materials, and craftsmanship that define this iconic design.
Bamboo Codex
Through decades of reinvention, the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag has continuously evolved, shaped by the vision of successive creative directors who have reimagined its form, materials, and details. This room presents a chronological display of the bag’s many iterations across more than 70 years, highlighting key transformations that balance heritage with innovation.
Threads of Connection
Bamboo’s influence within Gucci extends beyond the signature handle, shaping the House’s creative language across patterns, silhouettes, and motifs. This room explores its broader impact, showcasing archival pieces and a CGI video installation by Sybil Montet that transforms Gucci’s silk scarf designs into a striking digital experience.
Metamorphosis
This room envisions the future of the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag through a generative AI video installation by multidisciplinary artist Francesco D’Abbraccio (aka Lorem). In a continuous state of transformation, the bag evolves through fluid sequences of shifting forms, while its signature bamboo handle remains a constant link to its heritage.
The Shape of Tomorrow
Reimagining the Gucci Bamboo 1947 bag in an unexpected setting, this room transforms its signature handle into a symbol of refined athleticism. Set against the backdrop of an elegant vintage gym, the installation explores movement and form, blending heritage with contemporary dynamism.
Crafting a Legacy
A tribute to the artistry and innovation at the heart of Gucci’s craft, this room faithfully recreates the ateliers of the Gucci ArtLab in Florence, where the Bamboo 1947 bag is assembled. Screens display a film by Davide Rapp, offering an intimate view into the rhythmic gestures of artisans as they shape, polish, and perfect the bag’s distinctive bamboo handle.
