MANIFESTO

« ALWAYS IN MOTION »
It could well be the motto of the House of Longchamp.

From crafting leather-covered pipes in 1948 to creating luggage in the 1970s, followed by bags that have since become iconic, Longchamp’s history has always been shaped by the creative gesture. It is the gesture of the designer, but also that of artists such as Serge Mendjisky, Tracey Emin, Robert Indiana, and Sarah Morris, with whom the House has
maintained an ongoing dialogue for more than fifty years.

Movement reveals itself everywhere: in the hand that shapes material, in the line searching for the right form, and in the creative impulse that transforms an idea into emotion. It can also be found in the exchange of perspectives, the meeting of disciplines, and the conversations that emerge from them.

With this edition of the Longchamp Art Festival, the independent, family-owned House shares what inspires it most deeply: a sincere commitment to art, design, and creativity. Through the festival, Longchamp affirms its ambition to make art accessible to all while celebrating the diversity of artistic practices and the artists behind them.

Conceived as a gift to the city, the festival is an invitation to discover, connect, and share. It celebrates a spirit of creative curiosity - one that encourages us to explore, experiment, learn from others, and embrace the unexpected. This value runs throughout the history of Longchamp, inspired by the ingenious, bold, and inquisitive spirit of Philippe Cassegrain, founder of the House.

The same spirit guided the curation of this edition. Creation, travel, and openness to the world have long shaped Longchamp’s identity. Drawing on this heritage, Sophie Delafontaine,  Artistic Director of the House of Longchamp, and Olivier Bassuet, Co-Curator, have brought together artists who each explore movement through their own distinctive perspective.  Through the body, form, light, and material, one idea emerges: here, nothing is still.  Everything is in motion.

Over the course of several days, works from the Longchamp collection enter into dialogue with those assembled through this curatorial vision.  Drawn from a wide range of creative worlds and disciplines, they form a program in which music, dance, performance, design, visual art, and digital art come together.  Conversations and encounters centered on creativity extend this experience even further.

The program brings together nearly thirty artists and designers from around the world. Thirty perspectives. Thirty artistic voices.  Each offers a singular way of making movement perceptible - through the body, light, color, material, sound, or even optical illusion.

We hope this interlude offers a moment of discovery and inspiration.  Art possesses a rare power: the power to shift our perspective, invite us to see differently, and, at times, re-enchant the world.