In the Frame: Marie-Claire Daveu

What are you working on currently?

Marie-Claire Daveu: ‘Right now I’m working to implement our sustainability roadmap at Kering. I support François-Henri Pinault and the executive committee to define our sustainability strategy and carry it out, implementing programs and acting as a sparring partner with our brands. We aim to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions by 40 per cent in absolute value by 2035. I also manage institutional affairs from a global point of view, for the brands and the group. And I’m in charge of our philanthropic pillar dedicated to fighting violence against women and children.’

What ritual or routine keeps you going?

M-CD: ‘In the mornings, I take my son to school. We walk when possible or take the electric car if we are short on time. Then I have breakfast with my daughter. Next, I kiss my pets: I have two dogs — a Newfoundland called Pushkin and a bichon called Gigi — a cat and a hamster, so it takes time! I love animals. When I can, I’ll read a few pages from a book about Saint Philomena.

What work of art made you see things differently?

M-CD: ‘I’m a big fan of 18th-century Sèvres porcelain. For paintings, I love the Italian Renaissance —Botticelli and so on. Because I love nature and biodiversity, you won’t be surprised to learn that I love Monet. I also like decorative works linked with religious sites — icons, sculpture — such as those found in Italian Renaissance churches.’

Which artist or designer do you wish you knew more about?

M-CD: ‘I’ve really enjoyed the current exhibition at the Bourse de Commerce [Pinault Collection, Paris], Le Monde Comme Il Va, which translates roughly as “the world as it goes”. It was very interesting for me to discover emerging and young artists, in particular Pol Taburet. I like his sculpture My Dear (2023), with two dog paws. As you know I have a real passion for animals and wildlife, so I’m attracted to it. You’re often drawn to work that mirrors your passions.’

What artists or designers are you watching right now?

M-CD: ‘I’m fascinated by the work of Suzanne Valadon, especially her landscapes. Her work is very interesting, and when you dig into her history, you find she had an incredible life in terms of where she came from and what she was able to achieve. She was the first woman painter admitted to the Société Nationale des Beaux-Arts. We have to stop ignoring the work of overlooked and past female artists. Whether painters or photographers or otherwise, they must be recognised.’

What would you like to see more of in the art world from a sustainability point of view?

M-CD: ‘When we speak about climate change, loss of biodiversity, resource scarcity, these are the most important issues of our century. Art offers another way to talk about these issues, and you can also involve people who wouldn’t be immediately engaged by numbers or very technical information. Art has a responsibility to raise awareness. I would like to see more exhibitions that advocate for environmental causes: wildlife conservation, reducing pollution, preserving biodiversity and more. Last year, the Bourse de Commerce hosted an exhibition called Avant l’orage, meaning Before the storm. It was a way, with wonderful pieces of art, to show the effect of climate change. It’s very important to engage people and animate the conversation beyond facts and figures.

Last gift you gave?

M-CD: ‘I organised a big surprise party a few weeks ago for my daughter when she was very successful in her studies. I also recently gave my son a VR headset so he can explore — now he crashes into everything around the house because he doesn’t know where he is!’

Your favourite view, anywhere in the world?

M-CD: ‘Nature! The snow in the mountains. I love the view in the natural parks in the Alps in Val d'Isère, not far from Paris. I was very lucky to go to the Galápagos Islands last year and see the wildlife there. There are no words to describe that. It was magic.’

Most memorable show you’ve seen this year?

M-CD: ‘You won’t be surprised to hear this — all the Kering fashion shows! Each house and show is so different, and yet they’re all about savoir faire, culture and heritage. In addition, at Christmas time, the Natural History Museum in Paris puts on a nocturnal exhibition of illuminated sculptures dedicated to animals and the environment, from insects to the forest. I always look forward to that.’

Top picks from Christie’s right now?

M-CD: ‘You have some very beautiful objects in the auctions and in private sales. In a recent auction, I saw some precious books called A Natural History of Uncommon Birds and of some other Rare and Undescribed Animals by the English naturalist and ornithologist Edward George. I started my work in part because I was so impressed by George. These books — three volumes — are really beautiful.

‘In private sales, there are two Joli paintings of Naples, my favourite city in Italy. I go quite often. The period when they were made — the 18th century — is very interesting to me.’