The exhibition Ce qui se trame – Histoires tissées entre l’Inde et la France explores four centuries of artistic and commercial exchanges between India and France through textiles. It opened on December 4, 2025, at the Mobilier National’s Galerie des Gobelins in Paris and runs until January 4th, 2026
Co-curated by designer Christian Louboutin, who handles artistic direction and scenography, and Mayank Mansingh Kaul, an expert on Indian textiles, the show features works from the Indo-French Villa Swagatam residency program. Organized by the French Embassy in India, Institut Français, and partners like 19M (Métiers d’art cluster by Maison Chanel), it highlights handcrafted fabrics, embroideries, and contemporary sculptures that trace shared histories from Mughal tents to haute couture.
Exhibition Structure
The display unfolds across seven or eight thematic sections, immersing visitors in historical and sensory narratives. Key spaces include:
- L’Antichambre: Recreates an 18th-century French apartment lined with Indian block-printed textiles by House of Kandadu, paired with Toile de Jouy inspired by Indian techniques.
- Toiles blanches: Showcases undyed Indian muslins and French laces, evoking cultural meanings of white.
- Modes indiennes: Examines painted cottons, chintz, and the origins of French paisley from Kashmiri shawls.
- Le fil d’or: Displays silk brocades from Lyon and Varanasi, influenced by the Jacquard loom.
- Le chic à l’indienne: Features sari reinterpretations by Raw Mango and embroidered panels from Chanakya School of Craft.
- Sculpter les corps: Presents sculptural textiles by artists like Mrinalini Mukherjee, Sheila Hicks, and Simone Pheulpin.
- Un langage universel: A denim-covered salon reflecting global exchanges, including works by Viswanadhan and Le Corbusier references.
Accompanying Events
A four-day festival, Histoires tissées, ran from December 4-7, 2025, with professional networking on the first two days and public workshops, demonstrations, and embroidery sessions by Lesage Intérieurs on December 6-7. The exhibition celebrates craft against digital trends, featuring rare heritage pieces and new collaborations.
Athmaja Biju is the Editor at Abir Pothi. She is a Translator and Writer working on Visual Culture.
