Paris honors “The Art and Soul of Thailand”

“As if you were there”. This was the name of the first room in which guests were welcomed at last night’s dinner called “The Art and Soul of Thailand”, held at the Hotel InterContinental Paris – Le Grand. For the occasion, the mythical place was transformed by floral artist Sakul Intakul. In the first of the three spaces, the scenography presented the Thai way of life through art and crafts. Main goal of the event: to highlight today’s Thailand, a modern, diverse country where craftsmanship holds a key role, as well as its new generation of talents with new ideas, carriers and projects. In attendance were many staples of Paris’ cultural scene such as Sophie Fontanel, Lolita Chammah, Alexis Mabille or Audrey Marnay. Best representative of this new generation, Her Royal Highness Princess Sirivannavari Nariratana, who is also a renowned designer in Thailand (she was notably invited by Pierre Balmain to show her collection as part of Paris Fashion Week in 2007). Before the gala dinner, a second space presented the major pieces of her couture label which mixes Thai and Western styles. In the presence of several Thai ministers and the Thai Ambassador to France, the evening continued with a dinner in the Opera Room of the hotel orchestrated by the Chef Vichit Mukura, while several performances and a concert by the Royal Symphony Orchestra of Bangkok punctuated this exceptional evening.