CHANEL Connects

Choreographer Akram Khan connects with Tamara Rojo, the Artistic Director of English National Ballet and a lead principal dancer. The conversation was led by James Whiteside, principal dancer at American Ballet Theatre, who is also a choreographer, recording artist and drag queen. They talk about pushing the boundaries of dance through unexpected collaborations, how recent events may lead to new innovations in performance, contemplating a life after dance, and much more.

Garrett Bradley’s documentary “Time” and Eliza Hittman’s drama “Never Rarely Sometimes Always” both debuted in 2020 to huge critical acclaim during a time of great upheaval in the film world. The two innovative directors connect in a conversation led by Rajendra Roy, the Chief Film Curator at the Museum of Modern Art in New York City. They talk about their drive to tell political stories in innovative ways, how everyday women navigate systems stacked against them, and much more.

Artist Kennedy Yanko makes visceral abstract sculptures from paint skin and scrap metal. In 2021, she was an artist in resident at the Rubell museum in Miami, where she presented her latest exhibition, White Passing, a reference to her biracial heritage. Kennedy connects with DJ and producer, Honey Dijon known for her high energy sets, fusing classic disco with techno and house. In this episode, Diane Solway, Head of Arts & Culture Programs at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they discuss how they got started in their creative industries, community, collective energy, and the craziest nights they’ve ever had.

Actor Maisie Williams is best known for her portrayal of Arya Stark in the television series Game of Thrones, which earned her two Emmy Award nominations for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series. Maisie connects with the musician Grimes whose daring, category-defying work blends pop, electronica, and the avant-garde. She describes her latest album, Book 1, as her “greatest work” to date. Both have a keen interest in technology and the way it can be harnessed to support the arts. In this episode, Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts and Culture at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they discuss The Metaverse, and whether the future of performance is virtual.

Dancer David Hallberg was once described by the New Yorker as the most exciting male dancer in the Western world and worked his way up through the American ballet theatre to become the first American principal dancer at the Bolshoi ballet in Moscow. David connects with dancer and actor Lil Buck. Buck specializes in an altogether different kind of dance, Jookin, which originates in Buck’s hometown of Memphis. In this episode, Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they explore transforming dance, who inspired them both to pursue careers in dancing, what makes Jookin so innovative and unique, and find out if anyone can learn how to dance.

Artist Anicka Li expands the boundaries of art with work that explores biology, technology, and the merging of the two. Anicka connects with pioneering artist and filmmaker John Akomfrah whose latest film was described by critics as “the most haunting, wrenching new work of art I’ve seen so far this decade…”. In this episode, Diane Solway, Head of Arts and Culture Programs at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both artists as they explore if we are more than human, how artists can contribute to important societal issues, the meaning behind John’s film Five Murmurations, major disasters when preparing exhibitions, and what TV shows they binged watched during the pandemic.

Artist Kehinde Wiley’s portraits have been compared to a long line of past masters including Reynolds, Gainsborough and Titian. In 2017 he became the first Black artist to paint an official portrait of a President of the United States when he was commissioned to paint Barack Obama. Kehinde connects with the photographer and activist Misan Harriman, whose photographs of the Black Lives Matter movement are some of the most iconic and shared images of the digital age. In this episode, Yana Peel, Global Head of Arts & Culture at CHANEL, moderates a conversation between both as they discuss everything from painting presidents to photographing royals, myth making and the people who have transformed their lives and careers.

Filmmaker, writer, and actor Emerald Fennell (Promising Young Woman, Killing Eve) connects with novelist Gillian Flynn (Gone Girl, Sharp Objects) to ask: Why do women have to be good? And what happens when they aren’t? In this episode, moderated by Diane Solway, Head of Arts and Culture Programmes at Chanel, they talk about the comedy in tragedy, new kinds of -anti-heroines, the female characters they long to write, and how they “keep the crazy” of their work from colouring their own lives.

어떻게 한국 문화가 세계적으로 뻗어 나가는 현상이 되었을까? 'K-Pop의 왕'으로 불리며 여러 매체를 넘나드는 뮤지션 지드래곤과 설국열차부터 기생충까지 뛰어난 상상력과 생생한 연출력을 인정받은 촬영 감독 홍경표가 함께합니다. 그들의 영감, 창조의 과정, 그리고 한국 문화의 커져가는 영향에 탐구합니다. 음악가, 모델, 샤넬 하우스 앰버서더 수주가 둘을 심도 깊은 대화 속으로 안내합니다.  

Dans cet épisode de CHANEL Connects, les réalisatrices Maimouna Doucouré et Audrey Diwan se rencontrent pour la première fois pour échanger sur l’importance de la collaboration dans le processus créatif, leurs expériences avec de jeunes talents du cinéma et la dimension politique de leur travail.  Maimouna Doucouré est lauréate du prestigieux Academy Gold Fellowship Award pour son film « Mignonnes ». Audrey Diwan a notamment été récompensée par un Lion d’Or à la Mostra de Venise en 2021 pour son film « L’événement ». Elle a plus récemment réalisé le film « Emmanuelle » présenté à Cannes cette année et mettant en scène l'actrice Léa Seydoux.  

How has Korean culture become a global phenomenon? Musician G-Dragon, known as the “King of K-pop” and an artist across multiple mediums, connects with renowned cinematographer Hong Kyung-pyo, whose vision and dynamic camerawork have animated films from Snowpiercer to Parasite. Together, they explore their inspirations, creative processes, and the growing impact of Korean culture. This conversation is moderated by musician, model and House ambassador Soo Joo Park.

Welcome to the third season of Chanel CONNECTS.In this series, we bring together global change makers from the worlds of food, film, art, architecture and beyond. Some are old friends and collaborators, others are meeting for the first time. All are focused on what matters most, and what happens next. And now, we get to listen in.

Kelsey Lu is a classically trained musician whose work is defined by otherworldly electro-classical sound, and by collaborations with artists including Solange and Blood Orange. Yinka Ilori is known for creating bold, colourful designs informed by his British-Nigerian heritage, often focused on accessibility and inclusion. Challenging us to think in new ways, Yinka and Kelsey Lu discuss the influence of the natural world on their respective practices, and the immersive power of music and art. They begin their conversation by exploring how joy feeds their creativity.

This episode features two audacious talents shaking up the film industry - in front of, and behind the camera. Savanah Leaf came to film as a former Olympic volleyball player and her debut feature, Earth Mama, recently premiered at Sundance Film Festival to widespread acclaim. Margaret Qualley has already worked with some of the best directors in cinema, from Claire Denis and Quentin Tarantino to Yorgos Lanthimos and Ethan Coen. The multi-hyphenate duo sit down in New York for a conversation about their journeys so far.

Rachel Rose is known for her intricate video installations which investigate our changing understanding of the world - from labour in 17th-century England, to explorations of outer space. In this episode she connects with fellow artist Aria Dean, who uses film and sculpture to produce meditations on Blackness and artistic theory. Their conversation digs deep into the contemporary art world: their multidisciplinary practices - including film, sculpture, and installation, the use of memes as critique, and how the weight of history inspires them.