Jean Nouvel: Furniture, Gagosian Gallery, Paris

When he isn't busy creating award-winning buildings and spaces, Jean Nouvel grazes on the non-architectural pastures of design - creating purpose-built objects that derive from his achitectural commissions or visions relating to his building concepts. The French architect's latest exhibition at the Gagosian Gallery in Paris may only consist of two pieces, but what they lack in number, they make up in sheer boldness of form.
Presented in collaboration with Galerie Patrick Seguin, both pieces of the limited edition furniture collection have that sensory Nouvel aesthetic, that so reiterates his lyrical yet utilitarian design style.
Commanding a minimum length of 4m, 'La Table au Km' is (while limited in edition) a narrow made-to-measure table that is in theory, limitless in length. Its principle for infiniteness is a simple one - the proportions of the table ensures that the span is supported within the thickness of the material itself, which is a lamination of oak and hornbeam.
Piece number two, or 'Boîte à outils, is a storage system based on the concept of a toolbox. Found in almost every household, its form has also been reintepretated and streamlined by the designer - now a bearing a geometric interpretation of the former, but retaining a functionality in design.
The table is in theory, limitless in length - the proportions of the table ensures that the span is supported within the thickness of the material itself, which is a lamination of oak and hornbeam.
The table exhibited at the Gagosian in Paris measures accordinly to the dimensions of the gallery.
Courtesy: Jean Nouvel, Gagosian Gallery and Galier Patrick Seguin.
Boîte à outils, 1987-2011 is a storage system based on the concept of a toolbox.
Courtesy: Jean Nouvel, Gagosian Gallery and Galier Patrick Seguin.
Found in almost every household, the toolbox's form has been reintepretated and streamlined by Nouvel.
Courtesy: Jean Nouvel, Gagosian Gallery and Galier Patrick Seguin.
ADDRESS
Gagosian Gallery
4, rue de Ponthieu
75008
Paris
-
Last chance to see: Sharjah Biennial 15, ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’
Built on the vision of late curator Okwui Enwezor, the Sharjah Biennial 15: ‘Thinking Historically in the Present’ offers a critical reframing of postcolonial narratives through major new commissions
By Amah-Rose Abrams • Published
-
For London Gallery Weekend 2023, the mood is hardcore
With London Gallery Weekend 2023 almost upon us (2 – 4 June), here’s our list of must-see art exhibitions
By Harriet Lloyd-Smith • Published
-
Birkenstock celebrates its most memorable styles with colourful capsule (and matching socks)
Birkenstock marks the 40th, 50th and 60th anniversaries of the Gizeh, Arizona and Madrid sandals, respectively, with limited-edition versions
By Jack Moss • Published