As summer draws to a close, the design calendar starts filling up and Paris Design Week’s autumn edition is always a highlight. This year, the week’s cornerstone event Maison et Objet fair is restructuring its layout to align with its core themes, ‘Maison' and ‘Objet'. Meanwhile in town, the fair’s young talent show Le Off moves to a temporary art venue owned by the national railway company SNCF, while in galleries, designers celebrate new launches and group shows, with a focus on Lebanese design appearing across the board. Here’s our edit of five exhibitions to look out for...
‘Supernova’ by David/Nicolas at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Celestial new works by the Lebanese designers will go on view for the first time at Carpenters Workshop Gallery. The collection of tables, cabinets and rugs channel their ‘retro-futuristic' aesthetic and mirrors Beirut’s cosmic cycle; the designers muse ‘a Supernova is the death of a star which results in either a black hole or a supernova, here, death is only a transformation, it outshines everything else and evolves into a new life’. Pictured: the making of ‘070’ dining table, in travertino navona with silvered brass. Photography: Alessandro Furchino Capria
6 September - 6 October 2018; 54 Rue de la Verrerie, 75004 Paris; www.carpentersworkshopgallery.com
‘Modernity of Brazilian Design from 1950 to 1980’ at Galerie Chastel-Maréchal
Post-war Brazil’s fertile hub of modernist design has long been an interest of gallerist Aline Chastel, and now she is opening a show of 21 pieces by seven designers including Sergio Rodrigues and José Zanine Caldas at her Paris space. All works are set on a vibrant painted backdrop by Vincent Darre allowing the undulating muscularity and occasionally rustic charm of the mostly wooden pieces to stand out. Read more here. Photography: Agence Phar / V. Luc & J. Beylard
6 September - 31 October; Galerie Chastel-Maréchal, 5 rue Bonaparte, 75006 Paris; www.chastel-marechal.com
‘Land’ by Raphael Navot at Galerie Diurne
The Parisian designer will showcase six new creations, one tapestry and five handwoven rugs, for Galerie Diurne’s third instalment of ‘Signature’ shows by contemporary designers. Navot has been a long-time collector of satellite images from around the globe, and these land views, from Boundary Bend in Australia to Liji in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, are intricately woven into rug patterns using materials including linen, silk and wool. Pictured: ‘Ikatu (by night)’ et du banc ‘Bridge.’ © Vincent Leroux.
14 September - 15 December; Galerie Diurne 50, Rue Jacob - 75006 Paris; www.diurne.com
Ha Porcelain at Maison et Objet
Aside from the layout shake up, Maison et Objet will be presenting its staple exhibitions including Designer of the Year, this year Ramy Fischler, and Rising Talent Awards that is focusing on six emerging Lebanese designers. In addition, designer Sebastian Bergne and porcelain experts Tokyo Saikai will be launching Ha, a new minimalist ceramics brand that uses southern Japanese techniques. Imbued with a dose of wit in the colours and design, they encourage individuals to live in harmony with nature.
7-11 September; Maison et Objet ZAC Paris Nord 2, 93420 Villepinte; www.haporcelain.com
‘Beyrough’ at Gallery S. Bensimon
Coinciding with the Rising Talent Awards exhibition at Maison et Objet, Gallery S. Bensimon are also celebrating Lebanese creativity with a show of works from David/Nicolas, Hala Matta, Marc Baroud and more. In collaboration with Beirut’s Joy Mardini Design Gallery, they present a dynamic showcase of the contemporary Lebanese design landscape ranging from sculptural lighting from Carla Baz, rose gold and walnut mirrors by Marc Dibeh from 2013 and playful vessels by Richard Yasmine made for JCP Universe this year (pictured). Photography: Silvio Macchi
6 September - 29 October; Gallery S. Bensimon; 111 Rue de Turenne, 75003 Paris; www.gallerybensimon.com
INFORMATION
Paris Design Week is on view 6-15 September. For more information, visit the website
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