I am delighted to welcome India Mahdavi as the first guest.
An architect and designer, she has built her own business model — she calls it her ecosystem.
She has experienced organic growth ever since, which is actually the key to her continuous success.
With sincerity and her (legendary) sense of humour, India talks about the reasons why she chose this job; her team; and the industry.
She treats us with deep insight, genuine advice, and many « quote of the day »s as I like to call them.
The whole interview is in French — stay tuned for Episode 2.2 (April 15th), a solo bonus in English in which I go over the highlights of our conversation. For this first interview, I have the honour and pleasure of welcoming India Mahdavi — internationally renowned architect, designer and set designer, multilingual and colourful, she has made rue Las Cases in Paris the heart of her ecosystem.
She explains to us how she created her own business model, which is ultimately the key to her organic growth and long-term viability.
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India also tells us, with the sincerity and touch of humour that characterise her, about the reasons why she chose this profession, her team, and the design industry.
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♟️ «My advice to young people? Try to hit the mark, and know how to choose your compromises»
♟️ «If I went into this creative profession, it wasn't to end up having to deal with day-to-day administration.»
♟️ «I never thought I'd have a team of 25 people and have broad enough shoulders to be a business owner – and I still don't see myself as a business owner»
♟️ «Being a leader is about uniting people, knowing how to surround yourself, and seeing what matters»
♟️ «You, Lili, provide support, a backing, a structure to all those thoughts that are more organic, more free»
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I met Emmanuelle Roule Thanks to Charlotte Brunet, LA Marseillaise is indispensable. The Charlotte Brunet Agency She offers the curation and organization of sensitive experiences, and in particular artistic projects. She thus introduced me to gems, including a workshop visit with Emmanuelle Roule.
Born in Saint-Etienne, now based in Marseille after living and working in Paris and abroad, Emmanuelle Roule is a designer, art director and ceramist.
A graduate of ENSAMAA Olivier de Serres, Emmanuelle started out in graphic design before discovering ceramics almost by chance.
Whether she talks to us about bees, geology or design, Emmanuelle offers a rich and technical analysis without being hermetic. Quite the opposite.
Because everything she undertakes is guided by a great curiosity and a desire to break down the barriers between all disciplines.
Immediate embarkation for a journey to the center of the Earth.
Granddaughter of the painter François Bret, who founded the’Luminy School of Fine Arts and Architecture in Marseille,
And daughter of Marie-Christine and Roger Pailhas, famous for the eponymous gallery in Marseille and also founder of Art dealers, which he liked to describe as «the smallest art fair in the world»,
Julie Pailhas has always been immersed in art — and entrepreneurship.
She started alongsideOlivier Saillard at the Fashion Museum in Marseille, before doing an internship in the press department of Dries Van Noten in Paris.
From opportunity to recommendation, Julie then worked as a fashion stylist and artistic director for numerous iconic magazines for 25 years.
And then lockdown called her back to her home city, Marseille, where she created in 2021 Inanimate Objects, her flat-gallery.
Stylist – curator – gallery owner, Julie is renowned for her discerning eye, her flair and a certain radicalism.
It was the first time I'd met her, and I couldn't leave!
Together, we naturally talked about her journey, and how she managed to find her place within such a family; ;
And, of course, the design and organisation of its exhibitions, whether held on-site or off-site; ;
From its business model; ;
And how and why it differs from a traditional gallery.
With the desire to showcase emerging or established artists, Julie Pailhas has created, in her own home, a unique space that reflects her personality and brings people together.
Portrait of Julie and her cat Momo in her flat-gallery in Marseille © Florian Touzet
