Culture meets diplomacy as Macrons interact with artists

“Enduring cultural partnerships are built not on ceremonial exchange, but on sustained dialogue. The New Passeurs affirms our shared conviction that artists, writers, designers, and institutions are the most credible bridges between nations,” Sunil Kant Munjal, founder-patron of Serendipity Arts and chairman of The BRIJ, said.

So rather than formal speeches, the afternoon was shaped by encounters. If fashion designer Rahul Mishra introduced Macron to his designs and the creative process, journalist and author Pema Wangchuk Dorjee discussed with him his graphic novel created with French illustrator Simon Lamouret. Poet and writer Meena Kandasamy read from her works to the couple.

At Ekatra, the President and First Lady stopped to ask about block printing. “The President was very interested in the process and asked us about the dyes we use,” Aishwarya Jhawar, founder of Ekatra, which works with women artisans across Rajasthan, said.

Also on view was the architectural model of The Brij, an upcoming art centre and cultural incubator in Delhi, led by Serendipity Arts, for which France has announced a public grant of almost 900,000 euro.