Exquis by Marie Ottavi - François Chaignaud

Artist, dancer, choreographer, author, and performer, François Chaignaud revels in daring contrasts, metamorphoses, cross-dressing, the hybridization of techniques, and the multiplicity of sources of inspiration. From the very start of his career, he has collaborated with choreographers such as Alain Buffard, Boris Charmatz, Emmanuelle Huynh, and Gilles Jobin.

In 2020, François Chaignaud founded his company, Mandorle Productions. This year, he co-directed In absentia with Geoffroy Jourdain at the Théâtre de Chaillot – Théâtre national de la Danse, where he serves as an associate artist.

Together, we will explore his intimate relationship with clothing and the role of costume in his creative process—"this little world that defines and opens a realm of physical possibility and impossibility," as he describes it.

François Chaignaud responds to the invitation of historian and performer Olivier Saillard, who himself was invited by artist Hélène Delprat. Delprat had been previously invited by author and art critic Catherine Millet, who joined Exquis at the request of filmmaker Albert Serra. Exquis is a series of conversations hosted by Marie Ottavi, examining the connections between clothing and what it reveals about us and our habits, from close up and afar.

"Exquis" is a series of conversations centered on fashion and clothing, inspired by the theories of six degrees of separation and the cadavre exquis. The premise is simple and playful: a first guest shares their unique perspective on the theme, connecting fashion to cinema, contemporary art, literature, gastronomy, or architecture. At the end of the discussion, they introduce the next guest, who will, in turn, enrich the theme with their vision. This second guest leads to a third, who introduces a fourth, and so on.

Thus, a multi-faceted conversation unfolds, evolving with each encounter. It surprises and builds connections, complements or diverges, ultimately illuminating the theme through six carefully chosen perspectives. A blend of different worldviews emerges in this exploration, guided by Marie Ottavi.