Likewise, Clisson, a French ceramist, designer, and artistic director known for exploring the relationship between minimalism, architecture, and tactile materials, is eager to discover how earth meets textiles while ceramics and weaving become one, during her stay at Nila House, Jaipur.
“Trained in a European context where minimalism, sober lines and the predominance of white occupy a central place in my work, I wish to initiate a dialogue between these two aesthetic universes. My project at Nila House will focus on blending cultures and know-how,” she added.
Among the other selected residents are writer Ruchir Joshi, art critic Sukanya Deb, visual artist Sajid Wajid Shaikh, poet Selim-a Atallah Chettaoui, illustrator Daniele Pasin, and poet Monia Ben Romdan.
The list also includes multidisciplinary artist Clémence Vazard, visual artist Marion Flament, designer Gabriel Hafner, children’s book author Séraphine Menu and literary translator Subhashree Beeman.
Reflecting on the success of the previous two editions, French Ambassador to India, Thierry Mathou, remarked: “Since its very inception, Villa Swagatam has been envisioned as a flagship initiative of our cultural cooperation with India, fostering a vibrant network of creative talents from both countries, with arts and crafts, and literature as key areas of exchange.”
This year’s edition saw a total of 520 applications — 353 from India and 167 from France — marking a significant rise in Indian participation, with more than twice as many Indian applicants compared to the previous round.