PIÈCES-MEUBLÉS is the title of a two-part exhibition created by New York art critic Bob Nickas at the request of Patrick Seguin. The concept consists of placing contemporary artworks alongside iconic pieces of 20th century design. Inviting 20 artists to choose a piece of furniture to dialogue with their work or to be incorporated into a new piece of work, the exhibition highlights the relevance of links and resonances between creations and creators across time. PIÈCES-MEUBLÉS also highlights the radical approach of many contemporary artists, whose work questions uses, meaning and content, and the very notion of “decorative.
While in 1995 the first chapter of the exhibition looked only at furniture (Jean Prouvé, Charlotte Perriand), the 2016 exhibition focussed on a Jean Prouvé demountable 6×6 house, the “House for the War Homeless of Lorraine”, that was erected in the gallery. Among the artists invited, some of whom participated in both of the exhibitions, featured John M Armleder, Richard Artschwager, Bertrand Lavier, Louise Lawler, Adam McEwen, Albert Oehlen, Haim Steinbach, Rudolf Stingel and Franz West.
With over 200 pages, the catalogue looks at both exhibitions, shown 20 years apart. With a preface by Bob Nickas, the book is organized in two sections – the first looking at the 1995 exhibition and the second at the 2016 exhibition. It is abundantly illustrated with photographs of both, along with archive images of Jean Prouvé’s furniture and architecture.
