Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris has recently opened the doors of a 1000-square-meter show dedicated to the beloved brothers of international design: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec. Even though here in Italy they might be defined ‘young’ talents, the two brothers have already been working together for fifteen years and this show puts together the variety and complexity of their production.
Titled “Momentané” the show is structured in three different sections. The vault of the exhibition space is dedicated to their extensive production of lightweight screens: modular designs created for Vitra, Kvadrat and Cappellini create a giant installation of Twigs, North Tiles, Algues and Clouds. One side of the nave, on the other hand, gives space to more than one hundred objects, ranging from different scale original models as well as final products. The other side of the nave is the set of office and collective space projects, together with a long wall showcasing numerous delicate drawings created by the designers (that have recently become protagonists of a book).
It might seem that this show is an ode to modularity, sequence and repetition, qualities that often characterize the Bouroullec brothers’ work. In fact, they declare themselves great admirers of Charlotte Perriand, whose combination of distinctively rigorous modular elements and playful colouring made her work stand the test of time. Fifteen years might not be enough time to know with certainty that the most famous brothers of the design world will be remembered in half a century, but it does seem like a pretty sure bet.
