The first generation of French designers, championed by Galerie Pascal Cuisinier, was influenced by large functionalist and rationalist ideas of modern architectural movements from the beginning of the century and from their representatives: Ludwig Mies Van der Rohe, Walter Gropius, Auguste Perret, Le Corbusier etc…
« Less is more », the detail in minimalism
These movements are based on the principles of a pure and radical minimalism: a form reduced to it’s essential being, constitutes a perfectly obvious answer to the function of the object – “less is more” is not an impoverishment but the result of much research into the simplification and purification in order to obtain the perfect form, the most successful proportion and the most careful detail.
Contemporaneity of these principles
Based on these principles, their research has profoundly influenced their contemporaries and future generations. These designers have influenced all mass-produced design to the current shapes of Ikea furniture. Their projects were taken to the public during the 50s and 60s.
Design as rigorous as today’s fashion world
This heritage extends itself to all of the decorative arts, for example fashion. Heidi Slimane, Kris Assche and Raf Simons talk about their approach in the same way: “Perfect mastery of the cut and refined detail”, “classical rigour and expertise”, “ahead of cuts and materials”.
The selection and stage designs are prioritized over radicalism and minimalism
It is this large contemporaneity that Galerie Pascal Cuisinier wishes to highlight, by presenting a selection of around thirty pieces, among them the most radical and minimalist, yet created in the 50s.
Galerie Pascal Cuisinier is championing the first modern French designers
Galerie Pascal Cuisinier strongly promotes the first generation of modern French designers born between 1925 and 1930 such as P. Guariche, J.A. Motte, M. Mortier, G. Dangles and Ch. Defrance, A. Philippon and J. Lecoq, J. Abraham and D. Rol, A. Monpoix, A. Richard, R.J. Caillette, and P. Paulin.
Since 2006, it has defended their furniture, produced between 1951 and 1961 as well as the work of key light fitting designers (P. Disderot, R. Mathieu, J. Biny ).
Born for the most part between 1925 and 1930, this first generation of modern designers followed largely similar paths, usually beginning at the Ecole Nationale des Arts Décoratifs or Arts appliqués à l’industrie (the schools for Decorative Arts or Applied Arts and Industrial Design). They shared a common vision with regard to the form and function of production furniture. Their designs were characterized by their practicality, technical innovations and elegance.
Located on the Rue de Seine, Galerie Pascal Cuisinier has helped shed light on the avant-garde spirit behind these young designers.
Its founder, Pascal Cuisinier, takes care to select only the best works from this period and presents them on show in the gallery and at the biggest art fairs around the world such as PAD London and Paris, Design Miami/, Design Miami/Basel.
