The renowned cultural event known as French Excellence is back for a ninth time at the Alliance Française de Singapour. ICONIC! will highlight the many French inventions that have transformed our way of life from 9 November to 17 December.
Without such technologies, modern life would be difficult to imagine. The way we live, work, and play has altered significantly thanks to many French inventions. The hot air balloon, pasteurisation and solar technologies, the metric system, photography, and even films and cinema are all French inventions that we owe to them.
But did you know that the “sergé de Nîmes,” a French cloth woven in Nîmes, is the source of your favourite pair of jeans? Or that French manufacturers created the iconic Smiley, folding umbrella, and smart card?




You are invited to explore 50 French inventions expertly displayed in the art gallery that has been particularly converted into a one-room residence, as selected by the Alliance Française de Singapour team. Everyone will be able to witness how these iconic works of art have incorporated themselves into our everyday lives. The success stories of the Hermès Kelly bag, the Lacoste polo shirt, the Brigitte Bardot-famous bikini, the Cadolle bra, the cutting-edge Guerlain lipstick and perfume, to name a few, will also be covered during your visit to this apartment furnished with exquisite furniture.
Fabian Forni, Executive Director of Alliance Française de Singapour, said: “Come walk inside our gallery transformed in a real-life apartment full of iconic inventions, and discover that there is so much more to the French than we think!”
Alliance Française de Singapour was founded on the tenet that fostering intercultural understanding and bridging gaps between cultures through education and the arts can help people live in a more civilised world. Each year, they host over 200 cultural events. Recent highlights of the Alliance Française’s French Excellence program, which presents a new theme every few months, include DANCE: A Tribute to Rudolf Nureyev, REWARD, which highlighted the French art scene as part of Singapore Art Week 2022, and most recently, NOTRE-DAME, which pays homage to the architectural masterpiece, and TABLE! #2 in French cuisine.
Visit ICONIC! as part of the French Excellence programme to learn more about the things that influence your life every day. It is open Tuesday through Friday from 1:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and on Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5.30 p.m.
Part of vOilah! France Singapore Festival, supported by the Embassy of France in Singapore, Biomérieux and Perrier.
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