France will share its Art de Vivre – the art of living – in Riyadh for the first time when it stages the designs of more than twenty French companies selected by a special committee comprising the industry’s leading professional bodies. This prestigious exhibition forms part of the series of ART DE VIVRE A LA FRANÇAISE travelling events that have been organised worldwide for several years by UBIFRANCE*. The exhibition is aimed at professionals and individuals who value the quality and style of French decoration, with Saudi Arabia’s marked penchant for French design making it the obvious choice to host this latest edition. The exhibition, which will take place over three days at the Al Faisaliah Hotel in Riyadh, will be opened by his Excellency Bertrand BESANCENOT, the French Ambassador to Saudi Arabia, on April 1, 2013.
The designer Stéphanie CLOT, who is accustomed to working for this type of event, has designed various luxurious and refined ambiances to create an original setting for the main worlds of the Art de Vivre.
Furnishings will focus on outdoor furniture by EGO Paris; traditional seating and furniture by HENRYOT &Cie; contemporary made-to-measure fixtures and furnishings by SIGébène; inlaid wood and glass work by SYLVAIN BULOT; and fine furniture by TAILLARDAT.
Pride of place for lighting will go to bronze workers: chandeliers and wrought ironwork from BAGUES; the highly stylish collection from LUCIEN GAU, worked using the technique known as sand casting; zinc, copper and solid brass parts – made entirely by hand – from LUM’ART; and perfect reproductions of bronze furniture and lighting that have made history by TISSERANT.
Fabrics and trimmings will shimmer with lights from HOULÈS, a renowned creator and producer of trimmings, decorative rails and upholstery fabrics; NOBILIS strives to express the sensibilities of contemporary artists when producing its collections of fabrics and wallpapers; LELIEVRE, owner of the prestigious Lyonnais Tassinari&Chatel brand of silk, has been making dreams come true for four generations; PIERRE FREY draws its inspiration from a remarkable archive collection to create and produce cloths, wallpapers, carpets and furniture in the purest French tradition. ROBERT FOUR – MANUFACTURE D’AUBUSSON, heir to the Manufacture Royale established by Louis XIV, has, amongst other things, woven portraits of Saudi Arabia’s greatest leaders; and SABINA FAY BRAXTON offers her extravagant extrapolations of the ancient techniques of hand printing.
It would not be possible to conceive of Art de Vivre the French Way without Arts de la Table. The art of table decoration will be represented by BERNARDAUD, one of the pillars of Limoges, the birthplace of porcelain; CHRISTOFLE, the gold standard in luxury and elegance since the 19th century, which has enhanced its collection with contemporary current trends; ERCUIS RAYNAUD, which combines a mastery of porcelain and silverware to offer decorative pieces or services – as part of a series or made-to-measure – with pure respect for tradition.
Decoration will feature in all its forms: original paintings and high quality prints from ARTASA; refined bronzes and ceramics from PAUL BECKRICH PRESTIGE; perfectly-mastered ironwork by POUENAT FERRONNIER for designing furniture, lighting and fittings; and luxurious bathroom accessories and fittings by SERDANELI.
To this list should be added CHAUMET, the legendary jewellery and watch maker, and the illustrious house of ST DUPONT, whose master craftsmen have been designing luxury accessories in the most refined materials for more than 140 years.
LEGRAND, one of the construction industry’s major names in electrical and digital infrastructure, and TANAGRA, a true ambassador of refinement that represents four Art de Vivre brands – Baccarat, Bernardaud, Chaumet and Christofle – have supported the organisation of this event.
A number of these businesses have been awarded the EPV label (Living Heritage Companies), a mark of recognition awarded by the French Ministry of Economy and Finance to honour companies with traditional craft excellence and expertise.