smow blog Compact: Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec in Rennes

Until August 28th the Breton capital Rennes is paying tribute to arguably the region’s most famous sons since Lancelot: Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec.

Born in Quimper on the extreme south west of the peninsula in 1971 (Ronan) and 1976 (Erwan) respectively, the brothers Bouroullec found their way to design via slightly abstract routes; however, having arrived swiftly set about creating not only their own design identity but changing many established conventions about what furniture and furnishings is, are and can be. Or perhaps better put, evolving many established conventions about what furniture and furnishings is, are and can be.

Initial projects for Cappellini quickly became projects for Lignet Roset, Vitra and, and perhaps most importantly, Galerie Kreo in Paris, a partner who offered Ronan and Erwan a platform to develop the more poetic aspects of their aesthetic, to refine their understanding of design and the design process and a cooperation from which numerous interesting commercial projects have ultimately arisen.

By way of a summer of Bouroullec celebrations Rennes is staging four Bouroullec events: the exhibition 17 Screens, an explorative showcase which was first shown at the Tel Aviv Museum of Art; a retrospective of 20 years Bouroullec creativity at the Frac Bretagne museum; a presentation of the Kiosque modular pavilions the brothers developed in 2015, and which are very closely related to their new Palissade outdoor furniture collection for HAY; and perhaps most interestingly an exhibition by the name Rêveries Urbaines – Urban Daydreams – at Les Champs Libres. Presenting, and assuming our French is up to the translation, the Bouroullecs’ first foray into creating public spaces Rêveries Urbaines promises furniture, pergolas, fountains, brooks and a marquee conceived with the aim of creating a convivial ambiance for socialising, relaxing, flânerie and presumably, dozing and daydreaming. And a presentation which although being staged in Rennes is, according to the brothers, intended as being more widely, universally, applicable.

Which all in all sounds like a summer of pure Bouroullec porn.

The only thing we can’t work out, or at least translate out, is, why?

We’re not opposed, far from it, just curious as to why Brittany have chosen now to honour the Bouroullecs…….

But then that question is probably less important than the one about if the presentation(s) do Ronan and Erwan Bouroullec and their canon justice.

And certainly less important than the one about what a cooperation between Lancelot and the Bouroullecs would produce……

More information, including the locations and opening times of the various exhibitions, can be found at http://www.bouroullec.com/rennes/