Since his early days, Francis Kurkdjian has developed a vision of perfume as an art form in its own right, a sensitive language nourished by constant dialogue with contemporary art, which he has embodied through notable collaborations with creators from all disciplines: visual artists (Sophie Calle, Sarkis, Yann Toma), theater director (Cyril Teste), designers (Felipe Ribon), Michelin-starred chefs (Anne-Sophie Pic), conductors (Klaus Mäkelä), and pianists (Katia and Marielle Labèque).
In this context, Doors was invited to provide artistic coordination with China, with the mission of imagining and implementing an artistic collaboration capable of embodying this expanded vision of perfume. From researching and proposing talent to coordinating the production of the work, Doors supported the entire creative process, working closely with Maison Francis Kurkdjian.
The choice fell on contemporary Chinese artist and ceramist Wan Liya, whose work explores the relationships between traditional culture, industrial modernity, and globalization. Her practice, rooted in the millennial history of Chinese ceramics while engaging in dialogue with contemporary forms, resonates naturally with the world of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, based on the demands of craftsmanship, precision of form, and constant attention to the long term.
For this collaboration, Wan Liya designed a monumental installation. The artist used ceramics based on the iconic shapes of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s perfume bottles and products, which he repurposed and reinterpreted as sculptural modules. These elements were assembled to form an 11-meter-long frieze, unfolding in the space like a continuous landscape.
The installation draws direct inspiration from one of the most famous masterpieces of the Song dynasty, A Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains by Wang Ximeng (1096-1119). Traditionally painted on silk and appreciated by slowly unrolling it from right to left, this iconic landscape is translated here into a new material language. Instead of silk, Wan Liya turned to her medium of choice, porcelain, a material that is both fragile and durable, deeply linked to Chinese history and the notion of transmission.
Made in the artist’s studio in Jingdezhen, the cradle of ceramics, 250 ceramic bottles each bear a fragment of the landscape. The motifs from the original scroll have been meticulously transferred onto these three-dimensional forms using a cobalt blue specially developed for this work, echoing the depth and dynamism of traditional Chinese painting.
By combining classic landscape painting with contemporary perfume bottle designs, Wan Liya creates a dialogue between tradition and modernity, nature and industry, functional objects and works of art. This formal and symbolic hybridity reflects Francis Kurkdjian’s approach to perfumery, which he sees as a cultural vehicle capable of telling stories, transcending eras, and reconnecting individuals with their environment.
A first exhibition of the work at the Palais de Tokyo
From October 29 to November 23, 2025, the Palais de Tokyo hosted the retrospective exhibition Perfume, sculpture of the invisible dedicated to the olfactory universe of Francis Kurkdjian. Curated by Jérôme Neutres, this exhibition offered a sensory immersion into the work and thinking of a creator who has profoundly renewed the approach to contemporary perfume. By taking perfume out of the bottle and opening it up to new artistic, cultural, and sensory territories, Francis Kurkdjian has placed his work at the crossroads of art, craftsmanship, and experience.
The production of the installation, coordinated by Doors, required close collaboration between all stakeholders: the artist, the artisans, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, the conservation team, and the technical staff at the Palais de Tokyo. Doors oversaw every stage of the project, from artistic design to manufacturing, logistics, and final integration into the exhibition space.
Presented at the heart of this retrospective, Wan Liya’s installation served as both a focal point and an open horizon: a work of art that embodies the encounter between the worlds of perfume and contemporary art, while inviting visitors to reflect on humanity’s relationship with cultural heritage and the natural landscape in the industrial age. Through this collaboration, Maison Francis Kurkdjian, the artist, and Doors affirm a shared vision of creation based on excellence, intercultural dialogue, and the evocative power of form. This collaboration illustrates our approach to cultural projects: creating meaningful connections between disciplines and cultures, and supporting artistic production in an institutional context.
