What makes an artist develop such an intense relationship with a country or city that they create works that art both pivotal for their career and for the place that inspired them? INSPIRED Season 2 examines six new cases in which well-known figures in the arts were influenced by specific locations that became key references in their work at certain moments.
Episode 1: Invader + Paris
Known for spreading mosaics inspired by characters from the Space Invaders video game, Invader has transformed the streets of Paris into a vast board of urban art, creating a kind of treasure hunt for locals and tourists. In a rare exclusive interview, the artist reveals how Paris is not only a stage but also a central character in his artistic journey – a space in constant dialogue between tradition, historical heritage, and contemporary experimentation.
Episode 2: Hiroshi Sugimoto + Japan
Follow photographer Hiroshi Sugimoto in his pursuit of uniting tradition, nature, and aesthetic contemplation. The narrative traces his work, marked by a deep engagement with time and memory, culminating in the Enoura Observatory, a space he designed on the coast of Odawara. The episode highlights how Japan is not only Sugimoto’s cultural homeland but also the symbolic matrix of a body of work that fuses art, philosophy, and spirituality.
Episode 3: Christian Louboutin + Egypt
This episode explores the deep connection between French designer Christian Louboutin and the cultural heritage of Egypt that inspires his creations. Fascinated since childhood by the iconography of pyramids, deserts, and pharaonic symbolism, Louboutin finds in the country not only aesthetic references but also a source of spirituality ad artistic reinvention. Through visits to archaeological sites, interviews, and behind-the-scenes footage, the episode reveals how Egypt has become a place of emotional research for the designer, reflected in the collections that engage with both the grandeur of history and the region’s contemporary vitality.
Episode 4: Josef & Anni Albers + Mexico
One of the most important figures of Bauhaus School, Josef Albers, and his wife, Anni Albers, took refuge in the United States during the Nazi rise to power in Germany. Based in North Carolina, the two traveled to Mexico more than 13 times between 1935 and 1967. During these trips–meticulously documented with thousands of photographs–Albers developed a profound passion for pre-Columbian art and architecture. These journeys to Mexico had a powerful influence on his prints, color studies, and abstract paintings—such as the Homage to the Square series—that established Josef Albers as one of the most important artists of the 20th century. As he himself once said, Mexico “is a country with unmatched possibilities for art.”
Episode 5: Elias Sime + Ethiopia
Internationally recognized for his large-scale works made from repurposed materials, Elias Sime found in Ethiopia the ideal setting to integrate art, architecture, and sustainability. The pinnacle of this dialogue is the Zoma Museum, a cultural and ecological center he conceived and built in Addis Ababa, blending vernacular building techniques, contemporary design, and deep respect for the environment. The episode reveals how the museum has become a symbol of Ethiopia’s creative strength and of Sime’s vision of art as a communal and regenerative experience.
Episode 6: Le Mayeur + Bali
Explore the deep connection of Belgian artist Le Mayeur with the Indonesian island, which became both his home and a constant source of inspiration. Fascinated by the colors, light, and rhythms of the Balinese landscape, Le Mayeur translated everyday life, spirituality, and natural beauty into his paintings, always with the presence and partnership of his wife Ni Pollok, who was a model, muse, and essential collaborator in his work. Many of his pieces, depicting temples, beaches, and local customs, reflect an intimate and sensitive view of Bali, and are today preserved in a museum dedicated exclusively to his legacy. The episode shows how both the island and Ni Pollok were not merely backdrop and model, but central protagonists in Le Mayeur’s artistic journey, shaping his style and enduring recognition.