
Exquis par Marie Ottavi - Olivier Saillard
19h - 20h
75006
Paris
Olivier Saillard is one of the leading voices in contemporary fashion. As a historian, creator, performer, and artist, he has chosen to explore clothing in various forms, always with a poetic lens, delving into the intimacy and emotion that a wardrobe or museum archives can hold. After directing the Fashion Museum in Marseille and the Palais Galliera in Paris, Olivier Saillard has expanded his work across multiple domains: leading the Alaïa Foundation and the artistic direction of the J.M. Weston house, writing, and creating performances.
One of these performances, titled Moda Povera, is a couture project that affirms beauty can emerge from simplicity, exploring the endless possibilities offered by so-called basic items like t-shirts and shirts. Another performance currently takes him to the realm of theater, bordering on cinema. In Embodying Pasolini, he collaborates with actress Tilda Swinton to explore the work of costume designer Danilo Donati, crafted by the Farani workshops for Italian filmmaker Pier Paolo Pasolini. The intrinsic power of garments—their history and the soul of those who wore them—remains at the heart of his research, offering a contemplative alternative to the commercial fashion system.
We will revisit his journey, his earliest sartorial fascinations, his inspirations, and the genesis of his projects. Together, we will explore his wardrobe, past and present, his habits and obsessions, the therapeutic virtues of fashion, and the memories it evokes.
Olivier Saillard responds to the invitation of artist Hélène Delprat, who was herself invited by author and art critic Catherine Millet, who had been asked by filmmaker Albert Serra to join Exquis. This series of conversations examines the connections between clothing and what it reveals about us and our habits, whether closely or from 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.