Despoke

Paris based industrial designer, Arthur Bodolec has created a conceptual furniture line called Jack Chair that, as he puts it, “comes alive” when it is used. The chair which is in the form of a box or an unbloomed flower when not used, forms different shapes when someone sits on it. Watch a video at Via:[PSFK]

Giotto STOPPINO, KD32 “Tic-Tac” table lamp, 1970

Despoke sat down with Paris based design dealer Thomas Rugani of www.thomasrugani.com. Juggling between the insular world of Parisian taste, and the hidden treasures of the country’s rich history, Rugani talks about his unique observations about design in Paris over the past five years.

DSPK: You’ve been living and working as a dealer in Paris for the last 5 years. How did an American like yourself end up here?

TR: I’ve been in Paris for just shy of 5 years. I arrived after spending a number of years working in the world’s art capitals (New York, London, Los Angeles) and finally decided on Paris because of the centralized European location and the opportunities that that offers. The arts, the cultural climate and obviously the food certainly weren’t a deterrent.
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The ‘Delicious’ range of storage units is now being marketed by Tools Galerie. A salute to the ubiquitous New York hot dog stand served up with a padded stitch effect borrowed from Coco Chanel, the range will be on display in the ‘Métal(s)’ collective show starting 2 April and running to 29 May 2010 at Tools Galerie,119 rue Vieille du Temple, Paris 3. 4 modules & finishes available. Price list on request.
Website:www.toolsgalerie.com

Kuntzel & Deygas have established themselves with a strong concept of innovation and many mediums of design. The duo have compiled an impressive show which features wide dimension of design with many mediums from speakers, chairs, carpets to work on canvas. Joyce Gallery in Paris is the location and will remain open until February 25th, 2010 making for a must see if in the area. Via:[SLAMXHYPE]
Joyce Gallery 168 Galerie Valois 5001 Paris France
Website:www.kuntzeldeygas.com/

It seems that quite a few things will benefit from a Scandinavian touch. Munchausen, a duo formed by

Parisian designers Simon Pillard and Philippe Rosetti, took a bold approach with their own kitchen by venturing to IKEA for the basic kitchen island and then spending the next week covering it with more than 20,000 pieces by another Scandinavian brand, Lego

The result is a one-of-a-kind creation that serves as an artistic centerpiece for the space, in addition to functioning as a kitchen counter. Pillard, who works with fashion house JC de Castelbajac, and Rosetti who works with Hugo Boss France Identity, formed Munchhausen in 2004. Via:(The CoolHunter)

Despoke catches up with Pierre Gonalons of ASCETE to talk about his recent designs, what it means to be a Parisian designer, and the state of the design world in the city of light.

With the recent success of his “Je T’Aime” lamp, Pierre Gonalons has won recent attention from various blogs and media outlets including L’Express. The principle designer and vision behind ASCETE, Gonalons strikes a slender figure who is quiet, but extremely friendly, and then excitable, especially when talking about Paris. A Lyonnais by birth, he considers Paris the only place for a French designer, as the rich design tradition offers limitless inspiration.

DSPK: Though you mention that Paris is THE place for French designers, it doesn’t, at least on the surface, appear to have much support for young designers.
PG: It absolutely doesn’t. Paris lacks the infrastructure and community of London or New York (and there’s nothing in the world like Milan). Many young designers feel hung out to dry here, especially when what gets rewarded are things you see at places like Ligne Roset. I would say, though I don’t know much about it, that Paris is truly a place for art first, design is maybe a distant second.
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