Here, elsewhere. The time is now… only for the authenticity of the “crush” of unusual pieces for which Thierry Grundman is the passer-by. A globetrotting antiques dealer with a discerning eye. From passions to round-the-world trips, this hunter of wonders and rarities has built a collection of nearly 15,000 pieces of furniture and objects from the 9^th to the 20^th century over the past 25 years.

He founded Atmosphère d’Ailleurs in 1998. After India and Indonesia, he went to China, where he discovered popular elm furniture with beautiful textures and proportions, but all too often covered in shiny honey-colored lacquer. He tried to have it stripped on site, but the result was always too yellow. Never mind, he returned with his cabinetmaker, with whom he managed to find the “driftwood” color so typical of the Chinese country furniture he loves, which he exhibited at MAISON&OBJET in 2000.

Until 2005, he was the only one. But soon others joined in, then others, and it became a major trend in decoration. An enthusiast of the wabi-sabi aesthetic even before he knew its philosophy, Thierry Grundman has seen it evolve, watered down and overused to the point of indigestibility.

Today, he wants to return to the essence, the quintessence of this modest, discreet beauty, marked by patina and the ravages of time. That’s why he opened the Domaine de Quincampoix showroom and its 2,000 m² of exhibition space to artists, gallery owners and designers who share his passion for this aesthetic, the antithesis of ostentation.

The idea of the Wabi-Sabi Lab was born. This unique event was born out of a desire to unite a collective of aesthetes dedicated to timeless beauty. “The more I work on it, the more essential this event seems to me. It responds to an inner need, the need to open up, and to a social need”.

Calling on Daniel Rozensztroch was an obvious choice. Daniel is an inveterate bargain hunter, a collector and a talented set designer. He could have written “le petit dictionnaire de l’imperfection” – we share the same attachment.

It soon became clear that the Wabi-Sabi Lab would be a manifesto for this. A dedicated, selective and demanding event. We’re committed to it.

The third player, Laurent Denize D’estrée, founded the communications, press and public relations agency 14 Septembre, which has established itself as France’s leading agency in the fields of design, art, hospitality and many others.

Together, we’ve done away with the idea of a trade show.

No juxtaposed booths, no exhibitors, but actors attached to an aesthetic that they defend and promote. As is his talent, Daniel will bring them together in a vast scenography, creating harmony in the diversity of pieces, materials and forms of artistic or artisanal expression.