The contemporary Chinese artist and ceramicist Wan Liya draws inspiration from Maison Francis Kurkdjian to create Thousands Kilometers Landscape, a previously unseen work measuring 11.915 meters in length, presented for the first time at the Palais de Tokyo in late 2025.

Drawing on the harmonious forms of the various flacons and products of Maison Francis Kurkdjian, Wan Liya handcrafted and hand-decorated more than 250 ceramic pieces in his studio in Jingdezhen, a historic center of porcelain production in China. Using a cobalt blue pigment developed specifically for this work, the artist recreated an entire landscape inspired by one of the most celebrated Chinese handscrolls from the Song dynasty, One Thousand Li of Rivers and Mountains, by the artist Wang Ximeng (1096–1119).

By creating a dialogue between the Chinese tradition of landscape painting and the forms of Maison Francis Kurkdjian’s contemporary objects, Wan Liya envisions a symbolic landscape linked to fragrance, furthering his reflections on the relationship between historical heritage, modern civilization, and the evolving bond between humankind and nature in the industrial age. 

Thousands Kilometers Landscapes is unveiled to the general public for the first time as part of the exhibition Parfum, Sculpture of the Invisible. 30 Years of Creations by Francis Kurkdjian, presented at the Palais de Tokyo in Paris from October 29 to November 23, 2025.

©Elephant