"FORMS" by Eric Jourdan at Galerie Gosserez

2 February - 7 April '12

Paris

After almost ten years, Eric Jourdan is back to present his design in a gallery on invitation by Marie Bérangère Gosserez.

"At the beginning I never imagine an object or a piece of furniture as a whole, I draw a detail (an assemblage, a groove, a link...) which will lead me to another and then another ...

This method is linked to the practice of drawing which creates a continuous link between all these sketches. The organisation of these forms follows later. I arrange, remove, build and assemble elements which become different pieces."

"Drawing can be liberating or imprisoning; it depends on where we stop the infernal machine which consists of covering whole notebooks.

That is where your associate steps in: organising; clarifying; making you take a step back. For this exhibition the role was fulfilled by Marie-Bérangère Gosserez."

"I readily imagine objects like constructions, architectural objects with plateaus, pillars, openings, in short language more related to architecture, a field which fascinates me. It is a question of construction here and especially to leave the different assemblage, piles of materials and textures ‘on view."

"I did not actually want to design vases....

I assume the idea of constructing buildings corresponding with each other, with their concrete walls, their overhanging mouldings and curves protruding from the framework.

The language is poles apart from the world of ceramics by choice: the references are clearly closer to Marcel Breuer’s Whitney Museum than Sèvres porcelain. "

Marcel Breur's Whitney Museum compared to Block Vases

The designer Eric Jourdan, graduated from the Ecole des Beaux Arts in St Etienne (87) and the Ecole Nationale Supérieure des Arts décoratifs in Paris (89). Since 1989, he has worked for the Fondation Cartier and Galerie Neotu. He went on to design the furniture and installation at Cartier USA in New York before participating in the Tim Thom project (Thompson multimedia) in 1993 with Philippe Starck. Before collaborating with the greatest manufacturers of French furniture: Roset; Cinna; Domeau & Pérès. His design is economical with its features without being minimalist. He has also exhibited at Galerie Peyroulet, acquired carte blanche from VIA in 2002 and produced the new scenography for the Première Vision show in tandem with Francesca Avossa.

"FORMS" by Eric Jourdan