Lovers of art and history, led by the by Mathieu Bruchon, the Head of Regional Economic Service of the French consulate in Kenya, gathered at the Alliance Française de Nairobi on Thursday for the opening of a captivating two-week exhibition organized by Air France to celebrate aviation history and Kenya’s ties with France.
The showcase, which runs from May 16 – May 30, is timely as it follows recent research showing that consuming culture, including through art exhibitions, is good for health and wellbeing, enhances quality of life, and boosts productivity[1].
Themed ‘A Celebration of Timeless Elegance’, the exhibition will pay tribute to the airline’s past engagements with Kenya while honoring its rich heritage and timeless elegance through a sensory and emotional journey through time, culture, and distance.
It fuses aviation history with the richness of Franco-Kenyan cultural ties, offering visitors a unique journey through time, from the golden age of air travel to the contemporary cultural exchange between France and Kenya, facilitated by Air France. The exclusive showcase will provide a captivating journey through the airline’s rich heritage, featuring memorabilia, vintage posters, and classic uniforms that showcase the spirit of French sophistication. A standout feature of the exhibition is a display of Air France uniforms over the years, from the petrol-blue military-inspired suits of the 1940s to the chic-couture garments of the present crews. All the designs used across the seven decades have been the products of world-leading designers and have made Air France crew recognizable in any airport for their allure and style.
The exhibition is open to the public every weekday from 09:00 to 17:00, and on Saturdays from 09:00 to 12:00.
“Exhibitions like this serve as living bridges between past and present, and between people and places. Through art, history, and shared memory, we celebrate a partnership between Air France and Nairobi that is driven by elegance, innovation, and mutual respect,” said is Joris Holtus, the General Manager for Air France-KLM in East, Southern Africa, Nigeria, and Ghana.
An example of cultural diplomacy, the Air France exhibition is designed as a dynamic space for dialogue, reflection, and rediscovery. It achieves this by paying homage to Air France’s historical presence in Kenya while showcasing its legacy of sophistication and global connection.
Visitors to the Alliance Française will encounter four interwoven pillars that together capture the essence of Air France’s cultural synergy with Kenya, and the personal stories that have taken flight between the two nations over the last 79 years – Air France’s first flight to Nairobi was in 1946 and the first direct service in the route commenced in 1975.
