QWhen Art Meets Luxury: Pharrell Williams and Richard Orlinski in an Exclusive Conversation
Paris, 2025 – On the occasion of the launch of the Atlas Kong, the result of a collaboration between Richard Orlinski and Louis Vuitton, the French sculptor sat down with Pharrell Williams, Men’s Creative Director at the Maison, for an exceptional podcast blending art, culture, luxury, and a global perspective.
Entitled “Beyond the Surface”, the episode takes listeners behind the scenes of a one-of-a-kind creation — but above all, it highlights the shared values between two visionaries who, each in their own field, are constantly pushing the limits of their disciplines.
Creating Emotion Through Form
From the very first minutes, the tone is set. Pharrell opens the conversation with a simple yet revealing question:
“Richard, what are you truly trying to express through your art?”
Orlinski replies without hesitation:
“Raw emotion. I want my sculptures to catch the eye and awaken something instinctive — unfiltered.”
Pharrell nods in agreement:
“That’s exactly what we’re trying to do in fashion, too. You look at a piece or an object, and even before you know why, you feel something.”
Atlas Kong: A Contemporary Myth
The conversation then shifts to the creation of the Atlas Kong — the polygonal gorilla sculpture holding a Louis Vuitton Speedy bag high above its head.
“Kong is the modern-day Atlas,” Orlinski explains.
“He’s not carrying the world — he’s carrying a piece of culture, of desire, of legacy — embodied here by the Louis Vuitton bag.”
Pharrell adds:
“It’s an incredible metaphor. The bag almost becomes a symbol of cultural responsibility — as if we’re meant to carry it with awareness.”
Breaking the Rules — With Meaning
The tone turns more personal as the two creators reflect on their relationship with the public:
“We’re in a time where people want meaning. Not just beauty — but truth,” Pharrell notes.
“And art today should be a bridge, not a wall,” Orlinski echoes.
A Dialogue Across Generations and Disciplines
This podcast — at the intersection of art, music, and luxury — shines a light on a shared ambition: to reinvent form without abandoning substance. For Pharrell and Orlinski, this kind of collaboration opens up a new artistic language — freer, more hybrid, more human.