An exclusive gathering at Jean Cocteau’s former villa highlights Behnam-Bakhtiar’s new works

On 6 September an elegant crowd gathered together at the Villa Santo Sospir, the iconic home of Jean Cocteau in the heart of the French Riviera for the opening of Oneness Wholeness With Jean Cocteau, the latest exhibition by multidisciplinary artist Sassan Behnam-Bakhtiar. The works on view connects the common vision of two artists from disparate eras in a unique showing of art that reflects the sensitivities of the time. In celebration of this rare exhibition, on the cover of the current issue of Bazaar Art is The Light Always Prevails, a striking recent work by Behnam-Bakhtiar.

Cap Ferrat’s timeless beauty has long attracted royalty, celebrities and artists, and the crowd that evening was nothing short of the same. Celebrities including Lily Cole, Nathalie Emmanuel and Jo Wood attended the event in addition to prominent international press and a host of VIPs. Guests sipped their drinks during the private viewing, taking a rare chance to explore the historic building before it undergoes a 3-year refurbishment after the exhibition concludes. After they had finished meandering the villa’s impressive grounds interspersed with Cocteau and Behnam-Bakhtiar’s art, they were taken to a sumptuously set dinner at the nearby Grand-Hotel du Cap Ferrat.

Oneness Wholeness With Jean Cocteau runs until 30 September at the Villa Santo Sospir santosospir.