Amaury Poudray: Book Launch & Exhibition at The Gallery

This year, TL Magazine ventures to highlight a selection of Brussels’ finest design and applied arts galleries during Brussels Gallery Weekend and Design September. 

Next week may is certainly set to be a highlight of Amaury Poudray‘s career thus far. Since graduating from ESAD Saint-Etienne in 2009, as well as from the Rhodes Island School of Design in the United States, the French designer has exhibited throughout Europe and has established his studio Amaury Poudray Networks in Lyon after passing by the research and communications center La Fabrica in Italy. This month in Brussels, he is launching a book and exhibition, with a round-table discussion to mark the occasion.

Published by Créaphis éditions, Arrangements is more than just a catalog of the young designer’s works to date but also a story about the creative process. Some two years in the making, Poudray was able to realize the book about his work and (more importantly) his process with the support of the Direction des Affaires Culturelles of Rhone-Alpes Auvergne region.

“I definitely see the book as part of my creative output,” Poudray notes. As much as any of the 15 projects within the pages, Arrangements is the result of “dialogue, exchange, sharing point of views, simply bing together… it clearly shows that nothing is fixed and everything is creating itself as we go along the path.”

Meanwhile, at the invitation of Marino Fermi of The Gallery – Brussels, the designer has created a new series of room dividers that play with the contrast between “divided and still open”. From prehistoric times to present day, the weaver’s loom captures both a sense of gesture and tradition, inspiring Poudray’s latest works. Thus “Telaio” comprises six demountable structures, in a limited edition of three pieces each.

The designer worked with Société Choletaise de Fabrication, a French company that has produced shoelaces, cords, ribbons, straps, etc. since 1969. Not only can the straps — which are attached by hooks — be removed, but the frames can also be disassembled if needed. Although the screens are “in between design and sculpture”, Poudray feels, as a designer, that “it is important to keep a real function, even if it is only suggested”.

“Telaio” will be on view at The Gallery – Brussels from 24 September – 2 October, with an opening reception on Friday, 23 September. Design enthusiasts are also invited to the round-table discussion, on the occasion of the book launch, on Monday, 19 September. Moderated by Lise Coirier, Editor-in-Chief, TL Magazine, Poudray is joined by Pierre Gaudin (Publisher/Director, Créaphis éditions), Giuliano Castellan (collector), Corinne Jourdain (Director of Manufacture de Digoin), Isabelle Verilhac (Director of Pole Enterprises & Innovation, Cité du Design Saint Etienne), and Michel Griscelli (Visual Arts Adviser, DRAC). The event will take place at the Résidence de France from 18.30h (reservation obligatory, +32.2.548.88.76).