Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec: young classics.
Formal perfection, decisive lines and poetic creative freedom: these are the unmistakable characteristics of the projects by the French brothers Ronan (1971) and Erwan Bouroullec (1976). Bouroullecs combine essential and poetic forms with innovative materials and techniques that respect materials.
Now in the firmament of the most famous designers in the world, they have deliberately kept their studio small, with only six employees. In this way, says Ronan – the older brother – they can focus intensely on every aspect of their creations: from freehand sketching to the pursuit of color. “The only good day for me is when I’m in front of my desk with paper, drawing or making models,” says Ronan. “I hate going to meetings. I don’t want to travel that much. I just want to search and concentrate. ” Compare the work of a designer with those of other contemporary fields of expression: “An Eames chair is like a Beatles song”. Like timeless tracks that never age, no matter how many times you listen to them, great design should have “a certain lightness, a certain elegance”.
The two brothers They began working together in 1998, opening their studio in Paris, after completing their studies at the École supérieure des Arts décoratifs in Paris and the École nationale supérieure des Arts in Cergy. They have been working together for about fifteen years, linked by the meticulousness of their work and the contribution of their distinct personalities. In 1997 they were discovered by Cappellini, who entrusted them with the first industrial design works. Hence the meeting with Rolf Felhbaum, president of Vitra – for whom they have never stopped designing masterpieces since then – and with Issey Miyake, for the design of the boutique for his new “A-Poc” line. Since then they have worked – and still work – with Artek, Hay, Alessi, Cappellini, Samsung, Flos, Kvadrat, Kartell, Ligne Roset, Established & Sons, Mutina, Nani Marquina, Glas Italia, Magis, Iittala, Mattiazzi and many others. Their work has covered many sectors ranging from the design of small objects such as jewelry to the setting up of spaces and architecture, from crafts to industrial scale, from drawings to videos and photography. The Bouroullecs also carry out an experimental activity in parallel with Gallery Kreo, which is essential for the development of their work. The drawings by Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec are part of permanent collections of selected international museums such as the Musée National d’Art Moderne – Center Pompidou and the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris, the Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Art Institute of Chicago, the Design Museum in London and the Museum Boijmans van Beuningen in Rotterdam.
