From 19 to 23 January Maison&Objet is back on the international stage, as the appointment in Paris that opens the trade fair calendar. The theme of the winter edition of the fair is “Take Care,” urging us to care for ourselves, nature and other people, as well as all forms of expertise and heritage; a way of encouraging companies to be more transparent, responsible and open, replacing ‘beauty’ with ‘goodness.’
“When deciding on our themes – says Vincent Grégoire, creative director of the design consulting firm Nelly Rodi – taking a close look at modern-day society always serves as our starting point. Today, the second we step outside we are hit with cultural, environmental and identity issues. Society is craving new models, and that is something that brands can deliver, providing solutions that target the environment, safeguard expertise, or encourage us all to care for others or focus on our own wellbeing.”
This narrative comes alive in the pavilions of the fair at Paris Nord Villepinte, with the help of several fundamental hotspots. Starting with the presentation of the Designer of the Year, the Israeli architect and designer Raphael Navot, who has created an immersive installation (Hall 7) made of lights and textures to visually represent emotions.
The new generations will also come to grips with the topic of “Take Care,” in the setting of Rising Talents: Marta Ayala Herrera, Max Millà Serra, Miguel Leiro, Tornasol Studio, Marta Armengol, Alvaro Aramburu and Josep Safont present their creations at Hall 6 and will receive awards based on the selection conducted by a jury chaired by Jaime Hayon.
Maison&Objet also focuses on national expertise through special installations. Danish design finds space in “Circularity in action,” an exhibition curated by Laurence Carr on circular and sustainable design. “The Art of Resilience” is an exhibition on Ukraine hosting 13 designers from that country, expressing a message of solidarity and individuality. They are on view at Hall 7, which also presents a “British Capsule” composed of English designers like Bethan Laura Wood, Lee Broom, Altrock Surfaces, Eley Kishing & Floor Story, Lucy Kurrein, and Thomas Hancock, in a shared hub of iconic pieces, new developments and collaborations.
Of course there is also a showcase for French creators, developed in a dual offering for rising stars in “Talents so French!” (Hall 7), amidst innovative visions and creative processes, seen in the self-produced works of Cédric Breisacher, Elise Fouin, Grégory Lacoua and Victoria Wilmotte. And for already successful brands, giving rise to the exhibition “Haute Facture” (Hall 7) under the artistic direction of Pierre Gonalons.
After last year’s success, Future on Stage (Hall 6) is back with a selection of innovative young companies standing out in the fields of design, decoration and lifestyle.
Leaving the fair pavilions, the attractions extend through the city in an ongoing dialogue between the main event and the context. The program of “Maison&Objet In The City” involves the participation of 72 companies, taking the viewing itinerary into the main streets of Paris. The path leads directly into the essence of the French art de vivre, opening the doors of showrooms and workshops for a firsthand experience of craftsmanship, décor and materials. Charles Zana, India Mahdavi, Charles Tassin, Pierre Gonalons, Chahan Minassian, Christophe Delcourt, Gilles et Boissier, Charlotte Biltgen, Stéphanie Coutas are just some of the names involved.
The city is also hosting the leading event for makers of textile editions, Paris Déco Off: on both the Rive Droite and the Rive Gauche, a world of color in the form of fabrics, wallcoverings, passementerie, with over 120 French and international brands.
Maison&Objet is also an opportunity for Italian companies so present their new creations for 2023 – as in the case of Baxter, which will unveil its first outdoor collection – or to reassert their presence on the market, like Porada, opening its first Parisian showroom at 252 Boulevard Saint-Germain, and Boffi | De Padova, which has moved to 16 Boulevard Raspail.
