Dezeen promotion: cognac brand Martell has compiled a list of the most influential emerging creative talent from France, which includes architecture studio Triptyque and designer Philippe Nigro.
The Martell France 300 project was set up to celebrate three centuries of the brand. Honourees were chosen across the sectors of gastronomy, art, mixology, entertainment and fashion for their "impact on French culture on an international scale".
The list was put together with help from French lifestyle magazine L'Officiel and German actress Diane Kruger, Martell's Tricentenaire Ambassador.
"This list is a culmination of a search across the world for the most exciting French talents, who embody the essence of French Art de Vivre," said Kruger. "Having spent much of my time living in France and working with so many great talents, it is so wonderful to work on a project that gives people some well-deserved recognition and shows how they are having an impact on French culture on an international scale."
The line-up includes three co-founders of French-Brazilian architecture studio Triptyque. Gregory Bousquet, Guilluame Sibaud and Olivier Raffaelli set up the firm with Carolina Bueno in 2000, and their projects range from a studio building clad with a chequerboard of glass blocks (main image) to the first flagship store for customisable furniture brand TOG.
Other architects include Emmanuel Picault, who has designed nightclubs in Paris and Mexico City, and Francois Roche of French studio R&Sie(n), which created an undulating asphalt landscape in Japan.
Tokyo-based French designers Emmanuelle Moureaux and Gwenaël Nicolas also feature. Moureaux has used rainbow colours to pattern everything from a bank facade to a wedding dress, while Nicolas' interiors include a Swiss spa with silk panels hanging in layers from the ceiling.
Furniture designers that made the list include Philippe Nigro, who has worked extensively with French brand Ligne Roset, along with London-based illustrator Malika Favre – designer of an alphabet formed by leggy cartoon-rabbit girls.
New York-based artist Cyril Duval and 2013 Turner Prize winner Laure Prouvost feature among the creatives from the other fields on the list.
Martell – one of the oldest cognac houses – was founded in 1715, during the period when French king Louis XIV gathered the nation's most talented artists and cultural figures at the court of Versailles.
The Martell France 300 project aims to bring together today's influential creatives in a similar way.
"The essence of French Art de Vivre is at the basis of everything we have done this year and the France 300 project proves it is as relevant now as it was 300 years ago, when Louis XIV gathered his court at the Palace of Versailles," said Martell chairman and CEO, César Giron.
"The vast array of names on the list from every part of the globe really demonstrates the power of French talent in influencing culture and keeping the French Art de Vivre lifestyle alive across the world."
See the full list of 300 creatives on Martell's website.
Read on for more information from Martell:
Martell France 300
Emmanuel Picault and Cyril Duval named as some of the most exciting names in art who embody the spirit of French Art de Vivre in 2015, as part of Martell France 300 project.
Worldwide search led by Martell Cognac and spearheaded by internationally acclaimed actress Diane Kruger, has identified the 300 most exciting French and French-inspired talents across the worlds of gastronomy, art, mixology, entertainment and fashion.
Innovative French architect, Emmanuel Picault, the creator of curated store, Please Do Not Enter, Nicolas Libert and the New York-based French artist Cyril Duval, better known as Item Idem, have been announced by Martell Cognac as some of the most exciting talents in art, who epitomise French Art de Vivre in the 21st century.
The Martell House was founded in 1715 at the height of French Art de Vivre. From that moment, gastronomy, tasting and craftsmanship have always been part of its history. During the same period Louis XIV gathered the nation’s most talented artists and culturally exciting figures at the court of Versailles. Today, in 2015, Martell – the oldest of the great cognac Houses – pays tribute to this heritage and identifies the 300 most exciting talents whose combined cultural contribution across gastronomy, art, mixology, entertainment and fashion epitomises French Art de Vivre in the 21st Century.
Led by Martell, in partnership with L'Officiel, the oldest French lifestyle magazine, the Martell France 300 project is also spearheaded by Martell’s Tricentenaire Ambassador, Diane Kruger. The internationally-acclaimed actress has lent her knowledge and experience of the impact of French culture worldwide to help select the 300 innovative French and French-inspired talents, along with the expert editorial team at L'Officiel.
Diane Kruger said of the project: "This list is a culmination of a search across the world for the most exciting French talents, who embody the essence of French Art de Vivre. I hope that by exploring this list and learning about these amazing talents, we can learn more about what French Art de Vivre means today, and perhaps live it a little ourselves! Having spent much of my time living in France and working with so many great talents, it is so wonderful to work on a project that gives people some well-deserved recognition and shows how they are having an impact on French culture on an international scale."
As part of the Martell France 300 project, Martell also conducted global research which reveals that French Art de Vivre is viewed as an integral part of today’s society across the globe.
Eighty-one per cent of the 6,521 people surveyed worldwide said that French Art de Vivre has significantly influenced their own culture. Across the world, French Art de Vivre has also been seen to have a large influence on art, with two in five respondents (40 per cent) noting the impact of the French lifestyle on painting in particular.
The top five attributes within art which respondents from across the world believe that French Art de Vivre has influenced are:
– Painting (40 per cent)
– Design (36 per cent)
– Architecture (33 per cent)
– Romantic Art (32 per cent)
– Sculpture (31 per cent)
Additionally, the Martell France 300 list identified:
Normandy-born, Mexico City-based Emmanuel Picault who is at the forefront of Mexico's design and architecture scene and is responsible for designing some of Mexico City's chicest establishments, including the newly opened La Valise hotel. He also runs the Chic by Accident gallery, specialising in 20th century Mexican antiques.
Creator of LA's new generation Curated Store, Please Do Not Enter, Nicolas Libert, who brings together more than 50 artists, designers and exclusive brands from across the world which exemplify an everyday French Art de Vivre.
Cyril Duval, known as Item Idem, a US-based artist and designer whose work is a mixture of conceptual practices, visual communication, industrial design, marketing and public art. His pieces have been exhibited at MoMA PS1 in New York City, Palais de Tokyo in Paris, the Frieze Art Fair in London and Art Basel in Hong Kong.
Alexandra Midal, a recent curator of the Grand Design Rooms in Geneva and Eveline de Proyart, managing director of Christie's Geneva are featured on the Martell France 300 list, showcasing Switzerland's move to establish itself as an important art market.
Other art talents in the Martell France 300 list include London-based French illustrator Malika Favre, pioneering curator and artistic director living in China, Jerome Sans, and 2013 Turner Prize winner, Laure Prouvost.
César Giron, CEO and Chairman of Martell commented: "This year has been a spectacular and historic one for Martell. It began with the announcement of Diane as our ambassador, along with an incredible celebration at Versailles in May. The essence of French Art de Vivre is at the basis of everything we have done this year and the France 300 project proves it is as relevant now as it was 300 years ago, when Louis XIV gathered his court at the Palace of Versailles. The vast array of names on the list from every part of the globe really demonstrates the power of French talent in influencing culture and keeping the French Art de Vivre lifestyle alive across the world."