As French President Emmanuel Macron concludes his fourth state visit to China this week, the enduring cultural ties between the two nations are exemplified by individuals like Quentin Foucque – a Marseille-born artist whose life bridges continents. Born in 1987 when his hometown first partnered with Shanghai as sister cities, Foucque's story mirrors 61 years of Sino-French diplomatic relations marked by deepening cultural exchange.
"Shanghai gripped me from the first neon-lit night in 2010," Foucque recalls, describing his spontaneous decision to relocate after a two-week visit. "This city pulses with the same Mediterranean energy as Marseille – both ports where civilizations meet and transform."
Now splitting his time between installations in France's cultural capital and Shanghai's avant-garde art scene, the 38-year-old embodies what Macron highlighted during his Beijing meetings: people-to-people connections as the foundation of bilateral relations. Foucque's upcoming exhibition at Shanghai's Power Station of Art will feature mixed-media works contrasting the azure hues of Marseille's Calanques with the Huangpu River's shimmering skyline.
With France and China celebrating over six decades of partnership, stories like Foucque's underscore how cultural ambassadors continue shaping what Macron called "a dialogue of civilizations" in his 2025 New Year address. As both nations explore new cooperation frameworks in creative industries, artists bridging these worlds gain renewed significance.
