On December 5th 2022, the day before the Chanel 2022/23 Métiers d'art show, Chanel organised a Rendez-vous littéraire (literary rendezvous) in the heart of the former Palais de Justice in Dakar, Senegal.
Hosted by literary historian Fanny Arama and the maison’s ambassador Charlotte Casiraghi - who conceived the Rendez-vous alongside Chanel’s creative director Virginie Viard. This new episode honoured the writer Marie NDiaye, who won the Prix Goncourt in 2009 for her novel Three Strong Women. During this encounter, the actress Rokhaya Niang read an extract from Marie NDiaye's novel, The Cheffe: A Cook's Novel.
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Charlotte Casiraghi has a passion for literature
At the end of the discussion, the rapper Nix celebrated his twenty-year career with an intimate slam performance with an extract of writer Ken Bugul’s book The Abandoned Baobab, followed by a concert in the Palais accompanied by the kora player Noumoucounda Cissoko.
Karl Lagerfeld, the Chanel visionary and a lifelong friend of her mother's Caroline, Princess of Hanover was a huge influence on Charlotte’s love of literature. The designer was said to dote on young Charlotte, giving her books when she spent summer holidays at La Vigie, his neoclassical clifftop villa on the Côte d’Azur: a volume of the German philosopher Johann Fichte during her early philosophy studies, the letters of Virginia Woolf when she expressed an interest in female voices. "He had a passion for certain women writers," Casiraghi told Town & Country, noting Lagerfeld’s love of Katherine Mansfield and Emily Dickinson. "It’s something he really gave me access to at a young age."
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They were joined by Chanel's creative director Virginie Viard
Chanel’s Métiers d'art show also took place in Dakar’s Palais de Justice. The choice of venue for the show was part of Chanel’s goal to contribute to the art scene of Dakar, and they have pledged to helping with the renovation of the building. “The former Palais de Justice in Dakar, where not only the runway show but also a major part of the accompanying artistic programme are taking place, is one of the most beautiful venues we have ever presented a collection in,” explained Virginie, “It was an obvious choice, and has been a source of inspiration as well.”
The entire Rendez-vous littéraire will be available on January 17th 2023 on the Chanel official platforms and podcast platforms.
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