New Delhi, April 29, 2024
The much-awaited French Art of Living exhibition, held at the historic Bikaner House from March 20th to 22nd, concluded on a high note last month, leaving a lasting impression on attendees. Organized by Business France in partnership with the French Institute in India, the Indo-French Chamber of Commerce and Industry, and OGAAN-India Design Week, the event proved to be a convergence of elegance, innovation, and cultural exchange.
On the grand opening night on March 20th, His Excellency Thierry Mathou, Ambassador of France to India, and Princess of Jaipur Smt Diya Kumari, Hon’ble Deputy Chief Minister of Rajasthan, graced the occasion with their presence. The exclusive preview dinner and tour of the exhibition offered a glimpse into the world of over 30 French brands, spanning various sectors from the finest tableware to furniture and design, captivating the imagination of the VIP guests in attendance. The evening culminated in a sophisticated French dinner, transforming the Bikaner House ballroom into a scene reminiscent of the Versailles castle, with original décor designed by Alexis de Ducla showcasing the best of French heritage know-how.
Following this event, the exhibition opened its doors to the public on March 21st, drawing crowds eager to engage themselves in French-inspired decors and innovative designs. Each room of the Bikaner House became a canvas showcasing the craftsmanship and creativity of the participating brands.
Central to the event’s agenda was the “Creative Dialogues” conference, curated by the French Institute in India. The series of enlightening talks brought together several panelists, emphasizing on the history of design and know-how from French and Indian perspectives, including famous heritage companies such as Féau, Mathieu Lustrerie, and Lesage Intérieurs, represented respectively by Guillaume Féau, Régis Mathieu & Jean-François Lesage, world-renowned French and Indian architect studios like Wilmotte & Associés, represented by its CEO Borina Andrieu, Morphogenesis and its founder Sonali Rastogi, Jean-Louis Deniot, Aparna Kaushik, but also promising French designers who are accustomed to working with craftsmanship like RoWin Atelier (a duo composed of Hervé Winkler and Frédéric Rochette), Hugo Besnier, and other key opinion leaders of the industry and creative sector like designer Gaurav Gupta. Mobilier National and its representatives were an important part of the debate as well as the exhibition and shared examples of how they try to blend traditional ‘savoir-faire’ and contemporary creation in their day-to-day activities and commissioned work at the national manufactures.
By providing a platform to these key players, the French Embassy in India and its different entities made a successful attempt to strengthen the people-to-people relationship between France and India in the fields of design and arts and crafts, which have been pointed out as strategic priorities by President Emmanuel Macron on his last visit to India (Jan. 2024), acknowledging the immense diversity of talents in both our countries and hoping that this dynamic can grow through trade exchanges and initiatives, creative collaborations like residencies (Villa Swagatam), as well as professional training and student mobility. With over 120 attendees, these discussions were notably successful.
Throughout the event, participating companies actively engaged with visitors, shaping meaningful connections and expressing optimism for future growth opportunities in India’s burgeoning luxury and lifestyle market, and exploring the fusion of traditional craftsmanship with contemporary creation at all levels.
The culmination of the exhibition on March 22nd was marked by a stylish dinner and cocktail event hosted by DLF at The Chanakya mall.
As the curtains close on the French Art of Living exhibition, its legacy of cultural exchange and creative collaboration continues to resonate, reaffirming the enduring bonds between France and India in that field and paving the way for other events such as the upcoming exhibition on French and Indian arts & crafts to happen at the end of 2025 at Mobilier National, in Paris.
