Japan: At the Heart of Design and Imagination
Sunday 7 September —
15:00
- 15:45
The Talks — Hall 6
Description
Japan and its capital Tokyo—a sprawling, global city—are synonymous with modernity, design, aesthetics, and creative boldness.
More than a century after the initial shock of Japonism, which left a lasting mark on French arts, the Japanese metropolis and the entire archipelago continue to inspire the imaginations of many creatives in France and beyond.
Fantasy or reality?
Participants
Gwenaël NicolasDesigner & Founder - Curiosity
José LevyDesigner and multidisciplinary artist
Denis MontelArtistic director and Executive Vice President - RDAI
Danièle GerkensJournalist
Gwenaël Nicolas
Designer & Founder - Curiosity
DRIVEN BY A PASSION FOR CREATING EXPERIENTIAL SPACES, GWENAËL NICOLAS, CURIOSITY, EMBRACES THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE WHILE ALSO CHALLENGING AND REVOLUTIONIZING WORLDS ACCUSTOMED TO FASHION TRENDS. HE AIMS TO MAKE PEOPLE PONDER THE FUTURE AND THE PURPOSE OF EXISTENCE, ULTIMATELY LEADING TO A BETTER LIFE THROUGH CREATIVITY. BASED IN TOKYO, HE AND HIS TEAM OPERATE IN VARIOUS DESIGN DOMAINS, ENCOMPASSING INTERIOR, PRODUCT, GRAPHIC, AND EXHIBITION DESIGN. RECENT PROJECTS INCLUDE THE ROLEX TOWER IN TOKYO, THE RUINART PAVILLION IN REIMS, THE ZILLI STORE IN PARIS AND A CHANDELIER COLLECTION FOR VISTOSI IN VENICE. 1966 BORN IN FRANCE 1988 MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN INTERIOR DESIGN AT PENNINGHEN, PARIS 1991 MASTER OF ARTS DEGREE IN INDUSTRIAL DESIGN AT RCA, LONDON 1991 MOVE TO JAPAN AS FREE LANCE DESIGNER. 1998 ESTABLISHED CURIOSITY INC.
José Levy
Designer and multidisciplinary artist
José Lévy navigates successfully between design, the decorative and plastic arts, infusing them with poetry and humor. Each of his creations expresses a unique blend of fantasy and rigor. He develops very early a close relationship with Japan thanks to his grandparents, official suppliers of tatami mats for the Olympic Games. Since, this artistic dialogue with Japan runs through all his work and enriches his unique way of looking at tradition and how it can be reinvented. He has been awarded the Grand Prix de la Ville de Paris and the Villa Kujoyama in Kyoto. Today, José Lévy collaborates with prestigious institutions and the best publishers, such as the Manufacture de Sèvres, the Cristallerie de Saint Louis, Hermès, Astier de Villatte, Roche-Bobois, Dyptique, Serax and Lelièvre, while his artworks are exhibited in the national museums. In 2025, he was appointed Creative Director of the Pavillon France in Osaka and signed the curation and scenography for the 10-year residency of métiers d'art at Villa Kujoyama, supported by its main patron the Bettencourt Schueller Foundation.
Denis Montel
Artistic director and Executive Vice President - RDAI
Julia Capp and Denis Montel both believe that design should be considered on the base of the context, culture and time into which a project is to be born. The unique character of each of their creations is the result of pure lines, meticulous attention to detail and supreme craftsmanship. Craftsmanship excellence is at the heart of their artistic approach, both in their relationship with materials and with artisans. RDAI is an architecture, interior architecture and design agency based in Paris, with a subsidiary in Hong Kong. Founded in 1972 by Rena Dumas, the agency is now led by Denis Montel and Julia Capp. RDAI works on all scales, from entire buildings to interior environments and individual objects — with innovative support from technical experts, research and development, datamining and material specialists — treating a diverse selection of programs including retail, hotel, residential, workplace, cultural, events and furniture design.
Danièle Gerkens
Journalist
Editor-in-chief of ELLE Décoration, ELLE à table and Art & Décoration, Danièle Gerkens has a degree in Economics and in the History of Art and Religions. Born and raised in Africa, she has worked as a journalist for ELLE magazine after various experiences: copywriter at Publicis, consultant at UNESCO, cook at l'Arpège with Alain Passard... She is also the author of several books including "Zero Sugar", an investigation published by Les Arènes.