Almost twenty-five years ago, our paths crossed at the very beginning of the Ayrton adventure. Yvan, coming from the demanding world of entertainment, had just laid the first stones of his lighting house with an audacious prototype: 192 Nichia 5 mm through-hole LEDs. I, in turn, was bringing my own revolution, the LUXEON high-power LED, destined to shake the world of light.

He could have been my father, such is his charisma and wisdom. Yet between us grew a sincere, profound friendship, almost fraternal. I still remember the wedding where, seated at the head table beside him, a non-protocol gesture he insisted on extending to me, I caught a glimpse of the man beyond the self-taught entrepreneur, beyond the instinctive creative who absorbs ideas with disconcerting ease, always seeking a new concept, a bold vision, a singular way of seeing the world.

It is difficult to condense twenty-five years of exchanges, shared projects, victories and battles. Through his vision and his exacting standards, Yvan has shaped far more than the landscape of stage and event lighting: he has influenced my life choices almost as much as my life partner.

At the time, I was navigating the world of multinationals, with a strike force I gladly placed at his service. Often without him fully knowing, sometimes more than I myself realised, I poured my energy, my network, and my skills into his project. Out of friendship, out of conviction, and because I deeply believed in what he was building. He has always offered me generosity of spirit and advice, and I like to think that, in our own ways, we have always supported each other.

Today, Ayrton stands as the undisputed leader in its field, a global reference commanding an audacious, precise, and innovative light language. I have had the privilege of being a witness and a discreet actor in this journey, sometimes in the shadows, sometimes in the light. I have seen entire trucks filled with luminaires roll past, symbols of a resounding success, at a time when my own responsibilities were growing. I was privy to all the confidences: the victories, the doubts, and that hidden side one often forgets in luminous narratives, the darker undercurrent that must be tamed, like an overly bright light that is patiently shaped until it no longer blinds.

Yvan embodies the French elegance of the Bardot and Delon years, a true “dashing man” from an era when light was measured not only in lumens, but in charisma and presence. Today, he lives on the Côte d’Azur, in a villa overlooking the sea, with a sweeping view of Saint-Tropez. He could have embraced a peaceful retirement, but the call of creation is stronger. He continues to invent and develop, now alongside his son Alain. He travels less, yes, but still keeps, with a touch of well-earned pride, his lifetime Platinum Air France card, a testament to the years spent crossing the globe to bring light where it was meant to shine.

Our passions intertwine well beyond the stage: wine, first of all, with our escapades to Vosne-Romanée, where we share a love for great vintages and authentic savoir-faire. A taste for design, for excellence, for things perfectly executed. The pleasure of the table as well, with Rita, who cooks with the same generosity as he does, and the affection they show to their animal companions, faithful presences in their sunlit days.

His company, Ayrton, bears a name that resonates like an homage to his passion for cars, much in the spirit of Richard Mille. Like Steve Jobs, whose genius he sensed before most, Yvan is attuned to the smallest detail, to ultimate precision.

But his passion does not end there. Cinema holds a singular place in his universe. His collection of meticulously classified index cards is perhaps one of the most remarkable in France. He spent years transforming his basement into a screening room worthy of the greatest, comparable in quality to Johnny Hallyday’s. Entire nights spent watching, analysing, and discussing films, knowing every detail, every anecdote, like a living encyclopedia of the seventh art.

I know he observes my own journey with a paternal benevolence, perhaps even a hint of pride. But he lets me chart my own course, with my successes, my missteps, and above all my style, because that is where the deepest learning lies. Like an adoptive father who, in the lines of light I draw, recognises a precious part of our shared history.

And in this story, Fosfens has also risen, not in the world of entertainment like Ayrton, but in the realm of architecture. With the same pursuit of excellence, the same passion for inhabited light, we are now shaping a new luminous language, both subtle and powerful, that integrates into living spaces with elegance and precision.

Thus this shared adventure continues, between heritage, innovation, and deep friendship.