TOWN TALK / 1か月限定の週1寄稿コラム

【#1】Galerie 21 : Objects in Transit

Writing:Nicolas Yuthanan Chalmeau

2026年2月13日

Galerie 21 is a space dedicated to craft culture and beauty and also a place where objects can be discovered and purchased. Open by appointment only on weekdays the gallery focuses on the quiet beauty found in everyday objects. Pieces we live with often without noticing them yet rich in presence function and stories shaped by time. It is also a community space bringing together people who share a sensitivity to craftsmanship and cultural value.

The selection blends antiques with newly made objects that share the same principles of durability and authenticity. Objects meant to age gracefully over decades sometimes centuries carry a value that goes beyond first impressions. Whether antique or contemporary each piece is chosen for its honest expression lasting relevance and ability to coexist naturally with daily life.

Galerie 21 grew out of years of collecting curating and traveling. Keeping these objects and their stories to myself eventually felt limiting. Sharing them and allowing others to experience and acquire them through simple objects and words became a natural next step and an extension of how I already work through images and storytelling.

After more than twelve years working in fashion I reached a point where expressing deeper narratives through clothing alone became increasingly challenging. While my label Sillage remains central to my practice objects offered a different kind of intimacy. They speak quietly yet directly carrying their own presence shaped by use time and making. My interest in mingei emerged naturally through learning about textiles and craft leading me to collect over the years and eventually open a space that now functions both as a gallery and my office a personal extension of my wider creative practice.

Profile

Nicolas Yuthanan Chalmeau

Born in Paris and based in Tokyo, he is a curator, photographer, and creative director. He has lived in Japan for nearly a decade and founded Sillage, an apparel brand produced exclusively in Japan in collaboration with major factories.

He later established a creative agency working with international brands on fashion imagery and storytelling, and went on to open Galerie 21, a space dedicated to craft culture and objects shaped by time, where antiques and contemporary works coexist through shared values of durability and meaning.

Across clothing, objects, and images, his work consistently explores the traditions of travel and the quiet power of handmade things.

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