Michel Saloff Coste

Michel Saloff Coste (born June 28, 1955) is an artist and professor at the École des Hautes Études Commerciales,[1] in the Executive Development department, and co-founder of the Club of Budapest France—an international non-profit organisation dedicated to leading citizens into discussing complex global issues.[2]

Early life and education

He was born in Paris. During his childhood, he discovered the paintings of his grandfather Roger Chastel (professor in the Beaux-Arts of Paris). He studied philosophy in the University Paris VIII[3] and followed the lessons of Gilles Deleuze. He attended École Nationale Supérieure des Beaux-Arts[4] in the atelier of Gustave Singier.[5] In 1970, he met Warhol[6] in NYC. His photography is part of the pop art movement and noted for coloring on a series of portraits of Deleuze and self portraits.

Work experience

He worked as a consultant in communication, strategy and management, and eventually became involved in more fundamental research on these topics. From 1985 to 1987 he directed a permanent multidisciplinary workshop at the Ministry of Research in France,[7] on the topic of societal change. In 1991, he joined Bossard Consultants, a leading European consulting firm, as head of R&D within 'Bossard Institute'. In 1993 he created his own research and consultancy firm MSC ET ASSOCIES[8] (Management, Strategy, and Communication) specialized in global governance, Information Society and sustainable development. He has been its President since its foundation. He is a co-founder of "New Cap Invest", a venture capital company dedicated to promoting highly innovative companies.

Research focus and contributions

Michel Saloff-Coste's research focuses on the paradigm shift within the Information society that he himself defines as a 'Creation-Communication society'. He elaborated a structural grid that defines the evolution of civilization in four waves[9] – namely 'hunting & gathering', 'agriculture & breeding,' 'industry & commerce,' and 'creation & communication'. Then he analysed the interaction between different representation fields (which he calls 'reality fields'). He further developed his framework with Carine Dartiguepeyrou and together they articulated ten long-term visions of the future called 'horizons'; their collaborative work was published in a co-authored book Les horizons du futur.

In 2008 Michel Saloff-Coste suggested to the French executive committee of the Club of Budapest to develop one-day seminars every quarter in which explore the main ideas, places and people linked historically to the integral movement.[10] The first day of those “inaugurals days” was dedicated to explain in general the integral approach.[11] The second day [10] was around the issue of the integration of the integral approach and philosophy in real life. The third day was about integral education. This very special day was a good way to explore the theoretical and practical epistemological question connected with the specificity of the wish to build an integral university.[12] The fourth day was an application of integral thinking to the analysis of the contemporary, sociological, economical and ecological crisis, and solutions of this analysis. The fifth day was about sustainable development and what the integral approach can bring in terms of integral ecology, society and economy. The sixth day which clotured the cycle of those inaugural days was more connected with future studies and futurology. The title was “Civilization of the future and future of the civilizations”. This title was important to underline the necessity to think in terms of cultural unity but also diversity.

So far, the Integral University (“Université Intégrale” in French) in Paris refers to this cycle of conferences. It is not an institute as such, as it is still in its developing stages. The idea is to organize one-day seminars on various themes in cooperation with speakers, theoreticians as well as practitioners. The use of the word integral puts the emphasis on a common desire of being integral. With this aim in view, the systemic and transdisciplinary approaches are also considered as part of the same quest for integrality.[13]

Exhibitions

His first exhibition is in the Gallery Maître Alber (1978). In 1981, he exhibits photographies[14] of the Palace and the Bains-Douches in the Musée National d'Art Moderne (Centre Georges Pompidou).

Published works

Films and videos

Gallery

References

  1. ↑ HEC School of management
  2. ↑ Club of Budapest
  3. ↑ Université Paris 8
  4. ↑ École nationale supérieure des beaux-arts
  5. ↑ Gustave Singier on artnet
  6. ↑ Photo of Warhol : http://homepage.mac.com/msaloff/.Pictures/VEP%20LAQUE/SALOFFCOSTE0161.JPG
  7. ↑ Accueil - MESR : enseignementsup-recherche.gouv.fr
  8. ↑ MSC ET ASSOCIES | Management Strategy Communication
  9. ↑ Watch the explanations in his videos : http://youtube.com/user/michelsaloffcoste
  10. ↑ 10.0 10.1 Université Integralé: PROGRAMME UNIVERSITE INTEGRALE 16 OCTOBRE 2008 AVEC VIDEO ET PHOTO
  11. ↑ Université Integralé: Programme de la 1ère journée de l’Université intégrale le 29 février 2008
  12. ↑ Université Integralé
  13. ↑ Integral Leadership Review
  14. ↑ 14.0 14.1 See the photos : http://homepage.mac.com/msaloff/PhotoAlbum29.html