ARTE, esposizioni. Parigi, Galerie Negropontes: Magic of Line, Magic of Colour; Éric de Dormael and Maison Matisse

Un percorso lungo il quale Éric de Dormael pone le sue creazioni architettoniche in una strutturazione caratterizzata dal rigore della linea, elemento che, tuttavia, si coniuga felicemente con la libertà creativa. La Maison Matisse, da parte sua, in quanto ambasciatrice dell’opera del pittore, è in grado di offrire un’interpretazione dell’universo fauve di Henri Matisse, agendo di concerto con designer di fama quali Alessandro Mendini, Jaime Hayon e i fratelli Bouroullec.

ARCHITETTURA E LUCI DI ÉRIC DE DORMAEL

Da trent’anni, Éric de Dormael forgia un linguaggio artistico unico al crocevia tra arte, design e architettura. Il suo lavoro, definito da linee pure e libertà creativa, nasce dalla struttura architettonica di ogni pezzo. Scolpisce con la luce, utilizzando l’ottone per creare forme luminose che giocano con riflessi e trasparenze. Formatosi come architetto in Belgio, ha conservato la precisione e il rigore del disegno, qualità che ora applica alle sue sculture e agli oggetti d’arte che realizza. Il suo processo creativo prende costantemente avvio con uno schizzo, seguito dalla meticolosa costruzione di modelli, per culminare poi nell’opera finale. Lungi dall’essere eccessivamente tecnico, ricorre a un approccio attraverso il quale la creatività e l’artigianalità coesistono in perfetta armonia. Egli trae ispirazione dalla bellezza effimera della natura (la luce del sole che filtra tra le foglie, la danza scintillante della luce sull’acqua) e dall’eredità duratura di maestri dell’architettura e della scultura come Theo Jansen, Frank Lloyd Wright e Robert Mallet-Stevens. La sua estetica spiccatamente architettonica e lineare pone in risalto le proprietà uniche dell’ottone, dove le variazioni di patina influenzano la riflessione della luce, nonché la malleabilità del gesso, che utilizza per creare sculture più organiche.

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Magic of Line, Magic of Colour: Éric de Dormael and Maison Matisse; exhibition from May 22 to September 10, 2025 – Until September 10, 2025, Galerie Negropontes in Paris presents the work of the sculptor Éric de Dormael and the artistic heritage of Maison Matisse, continuing a cycle of exhibitions devoted to dialogues between various artistic expressions. The exhibition is structured around two axes: one of difference, opposing the use of a broad palette of colors to that of a monochrome, structured line; and the other of similarity, bringing these two languages together in a sculptural interpretation through free, organic forms. Along the way, Éric de Dormael exhibits his architectural and structured creations, in which the rigor of line is combined with creative freedom. Maison Matisse, for its part, ambassador for the painter’s work, offers an interpretation of Matisse’s fauvist universe, in collaboration with renowned designers such as Alessandro Mendini, Jaime Hayon and the Bouroullec brothers.

ÉRIC DE DORMAEL: ARCHITECTURE AND LIGHT

For thirty years, Éric de Dormael has forged a unique artistic language at the crossroads of art, design, and architecture. His work, defined by pure lines and creative freedom, stems from the architectural structure of each piece. He sculpts with light, using brass to create luminous forms that play with reflection and transparency. Trained as an architect in Belgium, Éric de Dormael has retained the precision and rigor of drawing – qualities he now applies to his sculptures and objets d’art. His creative process always begins with a sketch, followed by the meticulous construction of models, culminating in the final work. Far from being overly technical, he adopts an approach where creativity and craftsmanship exist in perfect harmony. Éric de Dormael finds inspiration in the ephemeral beauty of nature (the sunlight filtering through leaves, the shimmering dance of light on water) and the enduring legacy of architectural and sculptural masters such as Theo Jansen, Frank Lloyd Wright, and Robert Mallet-Stevens.

EXPLORATION OF UNIQUE

His distinctly architectural and linear aesthetic highlights the unique properties of brass, where variations in patina influence light reflection, as well as the malleability of plaster, which he uses to create more organic sculptures. For this exhibition, he continues his exploration of unique furniture pieces. On display are a mirror with a brass and plaster structure, two coffee tables — one in plaster and glass, the other entirely in metal – sculptures, and the brass and LED light installations. With a keen eye for detail, Éric de Dormael crafts delicate and captivating works. Whether shaping brass, plaster, bronze, or papier-mâché, his artistry transforms materials into dreamlike structures, interwoven with geometric forms and luminous patterns. Each sculpture invites a silent dialogue with the viewer’s imagination, creating a deeply sensory and contemplative experience. His precise and delicate style, celebrating the magic of pure lines, is also expressed in smaller pieces such as jewelry. This new exploration has allowed him to articulate a sense of exuberance while staying true to his structured, constructed aesthetic.

MAISON MATISSE: HERITAGE AND CREATION

Founded in 2019 by Jean-Matthieu Matisse, great-grandson of Henri Matisse, Maison Matisse is dedicated to celebrating and preserving the painter’s artistic legacy through collaborations with artists and designers. These collaborations produce exceptional pieces that celebrate Matisse’s creativity within new artistic domains. Maison Matisse celebrated the painter’s 150th birthday with the launch of three limited edition series. Alessandro Mendini is a pivotal figure in design, a leading creator, designer, and critic of the 20th century. His vases Sinuoso, Lucente, and Puro, produced by Alessio Sarri, result from rigorous technical research. Each earthenware piece demands up to eight successive firings at over 900°C to achieve their perfect hues. Drawing inspiration from Matisse’s motifs and decorative spatiality, Mendini translates the painter’s pictorial world into three-dimensional forms. For the designer, the words that best characterise Matisse are purity and light, the rapport between himself and the figurative world «of the great figure which could only stem from an object, and more specifically, from a vase».

THE VANGUARD OF A MOVEMENT

Spanish artist and designer Jaime Hayon stands at the vanguard of a movement that seamlessly blends art, decoration, and design, solidifying his position as one of his generation’s most influential creators. In collaboration with the Italian manufacturer Bosa, Hayon has crafted three vases Graphinight, Oceanographic, and Aeromaticolor, from white clay, requiring up to seven firings to achieve their vibrant hues, echoing the magic of Matisse’s palette. Hayon masterfully merges tradition with modernity, drawing inspiration from Matisse’s iconic shapes and motifs. He particularly admires Matisse’s bold use of colour, which resonates throughout these Mediterranean-inspired vases, revealing subtle echoes of the painter’s artistic vision. Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec collaborate across industrial design and research, extending from object design to public space, with their work spanning multiple fields of expression. The Bouroullec style is renowned worldwide for its craftsmanship and elegant aesthetic. Their recent work, using brick from a historic French tile factory, combines terracotta, anodized aluminum, and glazed ceramic to create luminous landscapes.

MATISSE’S VIBRANT BLUES AND GREEN

Inspired by Matisse’s vibrant blues and greens, they have meticulously developed vases featuring delicate watercolour-like gradients, a testament to their extensive research. The designers see these vases as a window onto the outside world, a pictorial motif frequently found in Matisse’s works. With these collections, Maison Matisse perpetuates the painter’s world through faithful and innovative reinterpretations. In its new exhibition, Magie du trait – Magie des couleurs (Magic of Line, Magic of Colour), Galerie Negropontes continues to foster a vibrant dialogue between contemporary artists and designers, and the rich tapestry of art history. This exhibition, a testament to originality, showcases the remarkable talent of internationally renowned creators. The collaboration between Galerie Negropontes and Maison Matisse will continue in Venice. On the occasion of the Venice Design Biennale from September 5 to November 2, 2025, the pieces by Maison Matisse will be the subject of a new exhibition at Galerie Negropontes Venice.

INFO

Galerie Negropontes

Magic of Line, Magic of Colour

From May 22 to September 10, 2025

Paris

14-16 rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau

75001, Paris, France

Venice

Dorsodouro, 3900

30123, Venice, Italy