The casket

On the Rive Gauche there is an apartment that contains small treasures and stories of happy encounters

Some kids play football. But Julien Drach, photographer, spent his afternoons at Galerie Colonna, his aunt’s antique store. Serge Gainsbourg was a neighbor and frequent customer. Sundays were for trips to flea markets, always in search of new treasures. One of them, an Indian Qalamkar divan, has become the aesthetic pivot of this studio/flat in the 6th arrondissement of Paris, in a former convent that mixes architecture from the 17th and 18th centuries.

Drach chose this place because it reminded him of Italy. His first impressions of that country came from a trip with his mother on the Orient Express, from Paris to Venice, and his most recent are those of an artist’s residency at Villa Medici in 2018, where he produced the work In-Visible. No structural changes have been made to the apartment, and the space has been kept as neutral as possible, as a setting for his still lifes and gatherings of friends and clients. There are, in fact, plenty of places to sit, but no dining table. The narrative thread is eclecticism, a bohemian atmosphere, a collection of objects and furnishings in constant flux, different epochs and styles.

As opposed to the more luxurious flats facing the street, Drach’s space is quite small (a kitchen, a bathroom, a small bedroom and a large living area), but the natural light that enters through the three windows is perfect for his work. A fireplace creates the right sense of intimacy. «This is where I share what I do with other people: it is work, but also a very personal experience». Social distancing permitting, try dropping by towards lunch, or on a Sunday afternoon at tea time: you’ll often find a guest or two enjoying pasta. Friends or clients, welcomed by the remarkable atmosphere.

«When our son was seven we moved back to Milan, with only a mattress and two chairs. Over the years our present house has filled up with things,and now I feel at home»