The Galerie DOWNTOWN, which is present at all the
major international art market events (TEFAF, Biennale
des Antiquaires, DesignMiami/Basel, FIAC), will be taking
part in the first Pavilion of Art and Design in New York,
from 10 to 14 November 2011.
Going against the grain, in the early 1980s, François
Laffanour created the Galerie DOWNTOWN with a thoroughly avant-garde brief: the rehabilitation of 20th century architects’ furniture which had sunk into oblivion. For
more than 30 years, François Laffanour has been tirelessly
championing the work of two pionneers of 20th century
Decorative Arts: Jean Prouvé and Charlotte Perriand
(joint founder of the Union des Artists Modernes with Le
Corbusier in 1929), as well as that of Serge Mouille and
Isamu Noguchi.
The gallery also holds the archives of the gallery owner
Simon Steph, from 1956 to 1974 producer of the furniture
of Prouvé, Perriand, Mouille, Jouve and Noguchi.
Essentially passionate about freedom, these postwar
builders-cum-artists re-invented far more than a way
of life or a way of dwelling, rather a life project,
no less, a manifesto of the period’s technical and
scientific modernity. In this respect, Charlotte Perriand
declared: “What interests me is people.” Spare lines
whose functional quality goes hand-in-hand with everyday
gestures, and simple materials (wood, metal, bamboo)
combined with a keen sense of detail contributed to the
refinement of their works.
For this first Pavilion of Art and Design, the French
architect Jean de Piépape will be the exclusive designer
of the Galerie’s DOWNTOWN stand, with all the geometry
and subtlety that are the hallmarks of his reputation. He
will arrange a shrewd selection of furniture and objects,
including seating and a staircase by Jean Prouvé, and a
bench, seats and shelves by Charlotte Perriand.
Pavilion of Art & Design
Park Avenue Armory:
Adults $20
Students $10
Free for kids
Firday 11th November till Monday 14th November 2011
11am-8pm everyday
http://www.galeriedowntown.com/ Booth #30
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