Interview with Fariba Khansari, curator of the Grand Palais design and métiers d’art store
While visiting Who’s Next Home, the curator shared her vision and told us about the particularities of her job, at the intersection of arts and design.
Who’s Next Home is the place where arts, design and fashion meet, at a time when concept stores increasingly blur the lines between these worlds. It’s also a meeting place for unique talents such as Fariba Khansari. Artistic advisor for design, and curator of the Grand Palais design and métiers d’art store, she’s the creative mind who complements two other spaces, dedicated to exhibitions and young audiences. Her role: putting together subtle selections combining essential pieces, unexpected objects and exclusive creations, designed in close collaboration with designers.
Where art and design meet
“A store such as ours attracts an international and extremely diverse audience” she says. “We welcome children as well as collectors and occasional visitors. It’s a delicate balance because we need to be both coherent and rigorous, while offering a range wide enough to satisfy those looking for accessible objects, and those seeking more refined items.”
An extension of the museum experience
For Fariba Khansari, the store must extend the experience of the visit. “Visitors leave an exhibition with their senses wide open. The store’s mission is to continue to feed this aesthetic curiosity, with objects that can surprise and charm at first sight.”
Balancing function and pleasure
Her approach relies on a dialogue between times and cultures, between the everyday and the exceptional. “I must create a balance between pleasure and utility, past and present, while creating a ‘wow’ effect. This can come from an everyday object with an elevated design, from a decorative piece or even from a cult piece of furniture that has stood the test of time.”
Another essential part of her job is to collaborate with designers. “We develop objects that are specifically designed for the museum store. The idea is not to create inaccessible works of art, but pieces that can appeal to any audience and that combine quality, originality and functionality.”
A perspective on Who’s Next Home
Fariba Khansari gave an enthusiastic account of Who’s Next Home, a space inaugurated at this edition. “I really liked the diversity of the offer, with furniture, lighting, textiles, and a variety of young and established names. It was a delight to see the work of designers I like, such as Thomas Vincent, Laurent Badier or Ludovic Roth.”
She also applauded the initiative of inviting Intramuros magazine to curate a selection. “Such an opening broadens the perspectives, while showcasing great design.” Another highlight was the presence of Ankorstore, an online sales platform easing access to orders for smaller businesses.
“Who’s Next Home offers an interesting complementarity with Matter & Shape, which has a more high-end positioning.” She smiles, and adds “I’ve actually placed an order that you’ll soon be able to discover in store.”
