Subtle bodies: Felipe Ribon's elegant Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition

Showcase of 18th century Hôtel Lalande
The Musée des Arts Décoratifs of Bordeaux invited designer Felipe Ribon to showcase his works in the 18th century Hôtel Lalande
(Image credit: TBC)

French designer Felipe Ribon has been combining his work with a wider research into abstract concepts, touching on  themes of hypnosis, trance, Cartesian rationalism and spiritualism.

This year, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design de Bordeaux's director, Constance Rubini, invited Ribon to showcase his works in the 18th century Hôtel Lalande; the museum's home and a spectacular setting that dramatically contrasts the designer’s minimalist silhouettes and use of colour.

After graduating from ENSCI – Les Ateliers in Paris in 2008, Ribon worked for Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec, later pursuing a residency at Rome's Villa Medici. Through his time there, he focused on objects as his medium, broadening his design scope beyond materiality.

For his Musée des Arts Décoratifs exhibition, he was given carte blanche to experiment with the house’s rooms, drawing inspiration from the history of the architecture and the people who inhabited it. The result is a poetic curation of his most recent pieces, forming a dialogue with existing architectural features, objects and sculptures. Titled 'Corps Subtils' (Subtle Bodies), the exhibition plays around the designer's themes with discreet elegance.

The aim of the show, he explains, is to ‘claim the space of the museum in a new way and blend in with its collection, while broadening our perception and opening our mind to other realities’.

House’s room with patterned arm chairs and fireplace

Ribon was given carte blanche to experiment with the house’s rooms

(Image credit: TBC)

Split picture with one half showing room with in curtains and statue with the other half showing abstract art

The designer has been combining his work with a wider research into abstract concepts, touching upon the themes of hypnosis, trance, Cartesian rationalism and spiritualism

(Image credit: TBC)

Row of white circle blocks with different shaped objects placed on top

The pieces on show are part of previous works by the designer, namely the 'Mind the Gap' and 'æ – objets médium' projects, both exploring our relation to things perceptible

(Image credit: TBC)

Split picture with half showing room with chandelier hanging and half showing round circle on the flood with diamond object hanging from ceiling

Through a residency at Rome's Villa Medici, Ribon developed his work on objects as medium, broadening his design scope to extend beyond materiality

(Image credit: TBC)

Green living room with pink patterned sofa and chairs

Ribon drew inspiration from the history of the architecture and the people who lived within it to stage a poetic curation of his most recent pieces that form a dialogue with existing architectural features, objects and sculptures

(Image credit: TBC)

Split picture with halSplit picture showing aesthetic themes with discreet elegance

The exhibition plays around the designer's aesthetic themes with discreet elegance

(Image credit: TBC)

Split picture showing house period features

The objects were selected by Ribon to delicately contrast with the house's period features

(Image credit: TBC)

Split picture with one side pink with a white eye and the other side showing table with abstract sculpture on

Hypnosis and spiritualism are recurring themes in Ribon's objects, which combine a modern form with abstract concepts

(Image credit: TBC)

Room with multiple sculptures in

The aim of his show, the designer explains, is to ‘claim the space of the museum in a new way and blend in with its collection, while broadening our perception and opening our mind to other realities’

(Image credit: TBC)

ADDRESS

Musée des Arts Décoratifs et du Design de Bordeaux 
39 rue Bouffard
33000 Bordeaux

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Rosa Bertoli was born in Udine, Italy, and now lives in London. Since 2014, she has been the Design Editor of Wallpaper*, where she oversees design content for the print and online editions, as well as special editorial projects. Through her role at Wallpaper*, she has written extensively about all areas of design. Rosa has been speaker and moderator for various design talks and conferences including London Craft Week, Maison & Objet, The Italian Cultural Institute (London), Clippings, Zaha Hadid Design, Kartell and Frieze Art Fair. Rosa has been on judging panels for the Chart Architecture Award, the Dutch Design Awards and the DesignGuild Marks. She has written for numerous English and Italian language publications, and worked as a content and communication consultant for fashion and design brands.