Galerie Gosserez “Seasons” by Valentin Loellmann

15 May - 13 July '12

Paris

“Seasons” from 15th may to 13th july at Galerie Gosserez presents two interconnected collections by Valentin Loellmann that reflect a search for a system that depends on organic dynamism, rather than geometric dictation, aiming to open up a space where design might not only mold nature, but also be molded by it.

Fall/Winter.The collection Fall/Winter consists of stools, benches and tables with different dimensions, functions and structures. Although diverse in size and set-up, all pieces are characterized by a similar working process in which mortise-and-tenon joints are used to connect hazel branches to an oak top. A mixture of sawdust and glue is used to fill and round off these connections, resulting in an esthetic, organic form in which no sharp edges remain.

The pieces are burned and treated with wax, after which the top is sanded, polished and treated with oil. The hazel branches, chosen for their strength and straightness, introduce a natural dynamic into the final structure and give each piece a distinct though recognizable character. Each piece is hand-made, marked and numbered.

Spring/Summer (2012). Galerie Gosserez presents an exclusive preview of the Spring/Summer collection, which can be seen as both a continuation and a reflection of the approach developed in the Fall/Winter collection. The collection Spring/Summer, to which new pieces will be added from time to time, consists of pieces with an oak top around which a metal body is modeled. This base form is then placed in an electrolytic solution with metal particles that gives way to a copper skin over the body of the piece. The oak top is slightly bent, burned and sanded with wax, resulting in a matte, leathery finish.

The electroformed copper body sculpted around the seat introduces a cool material, but radiates a warm glow that contrasts and complements the dark oak top and mirrors the season from which it sprang through its changing colours.

Valentin Loellmann (1983, Germany) grew up in an environment of shared creativity, sparking an artistic drive at a young age. After graduating from the Academy of Fine Arts in Maastricht (NL), Loellmann set up his own studio in Maastricht, from where he has been working on various collections and commissions, steadily gaining international recognition and a global clientele. Whether perceived as an antiquarian, a dreamer, a wood worker, a designer or an artist, Loellmann continuously aims to express the balance and reciprocity between the past and the present, the old and the new, the natural and the artificial.