Le Forum will hold an exhibition entitled “Condensation” highlighting the process and the resulting output of “Artists residencies” organized by Fondation d'entreprise Hermès.

Artists residencies in Hermès workshop began in summer 2010. Established by the Fondation d'entreprise Hermès, this program seeks to create a link between the expertise involved in highly skilled craftwork and contemporary artistic creation. The Fondation d'entreprise Hermès works directly with artists by supporting their artistic output. This commitment is already evidenced in the shows staged by the Foundation in Hermès exhibition venues, as well as in the New Settings program –at the intersection between performance and plastic arts. 

In the residency program, emerging artists have an opportunity to produce works of art that draw on outstanding know-how and use materials that would otherwise be difficult for them to obtain, such as crystal, certain types of leather, silver and silk. Offering this environment for artistic creation leads to unique adventures in art. The workshops are also fully committed to the Foundation’s program. The latter gives their artisans the opportunity to hone their skills by devoting time to unsual projects that open up the shop floor to new concepts.

For its part, the Foundation undertakes to highlight these residencies and the resulting output, in order to raise the profile of the artists in question. For instance, the sixteen works produced to date were on show in the Condensation exhibition, staged by Gaël Charbau in summer 2013 at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris, following by Ginza Maison Hermès Le Forum, the first time outside of France. This initiative will be a fascinating artistic and human endeabour. Genuinely close working relationships have been built up over time.

*more images will be updated.