Jean Nouvel at Musée des Arts Décoratifs
With over one hundred pieces of furniture and objects to his name, Jean Nouvel has quietly built an enviable portfolio of projects that are smaller than the buildings that he is known for. The Graphic Design and Advertising galleries at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs are just some of the spaces where the contemporary architect has applied his gifts as a designer. Yet Nouvel hesitates to categorize himself as such, preferring the description, “an architect who designs”.
Designation aside, a new exhibition at the museum includes numerous projects by the Nouvel, on view in the same galleries that he redesigned in 1998. Jean Nouvel, mes Meubles d’Architecte includes nearly three decades worth of furniture and design objects by the French architect, from his aluminum prototypes for VIA (1987) to marble carpets that launched this year. Indeed, many of the projects allude to historical works, styles, and movements that are well-represented in the collections of the Musée des Arts Décoratifs.
Jean Nouvel, mes Meubles d’Architecte will open at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs on 27 October 2016 and is on view until 12 February 2017.