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NEW YORK - A MOBILE art exhibition inspired by the iconic quilted leather Chanel bag '2.55' created in 1955 by Coco Chanel opens on Friday in Central Park.
Fifteen artists have been inspired to contribute to the exhibition set up in a glass fiber mobile gallery resembling a spaceship and designed by Iraqi-born British architect Zaha Hadid.
'Stay by my side and follow my instructions,' orders French actress Jeanne Moreau in her languid voice over an audio guide recorded for the exhibition.
Meandering through the pavilion, visitors discover installations by artists from around the world, even though few share much with the signature handbag with its gold chain.
The inspiration for the exhibition is only obvious in one of the pieces - a giant version of the open bag lying on its side. Other works include Frenchman Daniel Buren's bathing cabin and an installation by Argentine Leandro Erlich showing the reflection of buildings.
Coco Chanel, who died in 1971, 'worked with artists like (Jean) Cocteau or (Pablo) Picasso, and this pavilion continues this tradition,' said a spokesman for Chanel and its artistic director, Karl Lagerfeld.
Shaped like a large white snail, the structure ends with a giant Chanel bag and a 'wishtree' by Yoko Ono, the widow of former Beatle John Lennon, where a wish can be written and hung on a branch.
Central Park marks the third stop of a two-year global tour for Chanel Mobile Art that began on Feb 27 in Hong Kong. It will head to London and Moscow next year before ending in Paris in 2010.
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