Cornelian Taurus, a bag brand created by Daisuke Iwanaga, will hold its first art exhibition, "Art Works Exhibition HANDLE," from May 23rd to June 8th at DdB Gallery in Aoyama, Tokyo (Ohara School Hall, 5-7-17 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, B1F).

Based on the concept of "hands and expression," the exhibition focuses on the brand's iconic "handle" and the "hands" that touch it, expressing the possibilities of expression as a bag designer through products and artwork. The leather artwork, which Iwanaga has been working on alongside his design activities, has only been exhibited at an exhibition in Paris. This will be the first time it has been shown to the public. A reception party will also be held from 7:00 PM on the 23rd.

As a collaborative project with this exhibition, nine limited-edition art products will be on sale. Artwork signed and dated by the designer himself costs between 80,000 and 150,000 yen (delivery between November and December), while handle artwork created by staff costs between 20,000 and 30,000 yen. Reservations are also being accepted for Cornelian Taurus' high-grade leather line, which uses crocodile and ostrich leather (starting from 200,000 yen, delivery between November and December).

Cornelian Taurus was launched in earnest with the 07-08 AW collection by Iwanaga, who has experience working for a bag manufacturer and as a freelance designer, as well as working as a buyer and MD for an apparel company. The brand philosophy is to express Japanese culture and identity through bags and products, and the brand creates products using materials tanned by Japanese tanners. The handle, which resembles the handle of a Japanese sword, is its icon. It currently has 12 stores overseas and 22 stores domestically.