The forthcoming publication on Laurence and Patrick Seguin’s private collection is set to be an exceptional tribute to the visionary work of JEAN PROUVÉ, iconic figure of 20th-century design and architecture. Through a meticulously compiled selection of furniture (primarily prototypes or rarely-seen pieces), architectural elements and demountable houses, the book plunges us into Prouvé’s singular world where aesthetics are placed at the service of function.
This new, fully bilingual publication presents the collection of work by Jean Prouvé assembled by Laurence and Patrick Seguin over the years. Generously illustrated with contemporary photographs and previously unpublished archive drawings, it brings to light a wide range of pieces designed by Prouvé over more than three decades.
Leading collectors and champions of Jean Prouvé’s work, Laurence and Patrick Seguin take us on a tour of their private collection, which brings together emblematic pieces by the “constructor”, some rare and little known, such as the 1939 Saint-Brévin table, and others iconic, such as the Métropole chair or the 1930 Cité armchair. Exploring the architecture of this impressive collection is an invitation to fully immerse oneself in the very heart of modern design.
“Over the years, Jean Prouvé has established himself as the cornerstone of this collection, because his modernity prefigured many contemporary approaches, and because we live with his creations on a daily basis. There is a real dialogue, a real synergy, between his furniture and contemporary art.”
Offering intimate insight on the theme of “living with a collection”, this publication illustrates how these superb pieces, acquired since the end of the 1980s, integrate seamlessly into the daily life of Laurence and Patrick Seguin. Between their apartment, their Paris gallery, and their estate in the south of France (Var), where the demountable houses are installed in the open air in a conversation with nature, this collection embodies a profound passion for Prouvé’s work and attests to the way his creations continue to thrive and inspire. This unique private collection, here presented as a cohesive ensemble, is shown at exhibitions or for special projects such as this exclusive publication.
A preface by Laurence and Patrick Seguin is followed by an essay by architect, historian and architectural theorist Mark Wigley. Known for his research and writing on contemporary architecture, he is Professor of Architecture at Columbia University (New York), where he teaches and heads research on architectural history.
Following a series of reclaimed exhibitions in France, Japan and Italy, this elegant book devotes a chapter to the four outstanding exhibitions of Jean Prouvé’s work organised by Galerie Patrick Seguin between 2014 and 2022. Presenting works selected from their private collection, these events were held in collaboration with Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli in Turin, the French Embassy in Tokyo, Château La Coste (south of France) and Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, thereby raising the profile of the collection internationally.
This publication is an expanded edition of the book published in 2013 by Galerie Patrick Seguin for the exhibition organised in partnership with Pinacoteca Giovanni e Marella Agnelli, and is a key reference for enthusiasts the world over.
