HKDI Gallery Presents Asian Debut of “Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Urban Daydreaming”
Committed to promoting excellence in design through partnerships with international museums and organisations, Hong Kong Design Institute (HKDI) and Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education (IVE) (Lee Wai Lee), member institutions of the Vocational Training Council (VTC), are delighted to present “Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Urban Daydreaming” – the Asian debut exhibition for the world-renowned design duo – as one of the three interdisciplinary design exhibitions presented by HKDI Gallery in 2018.
One of the most internationally sought-after designer duos of the decade, Ronan and Erwan BOUROULLEC have been lauded by prestigious accolades in the industry. Known for their minimalistic artistry, experimental yet practical inventions, Ronan and Erwan BOUROULLEC seek to challenge the status quo of contemporary design, and is a well-regarded name in numerous global design companies such as Vitra, Kvadrat, Magis, to name a few.
Since the late 90s the pair has gained global recognition as Designer of the Year from many prestigious design organisations, with recent ones including the Wallpaper* Design Award (2016), Panerai London Design Medal (2014), Architektur & Wohnen (2013), and Maison & Objet (2011). Widely exhibited in museums across the world, their designs form part of the permanent collections of international museums, including Victoria and Albert Musuem and Design Museum (London, UK), Musée national d’art moderne in the Centre Pompidou and Musée des Arts décoratifs (Paris, France), and Museum of Modern Art (New York, USA).
An exhibition of the Vitra Design Museum in cooperation with Les Champs Libres in Rennes, “Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Urban Daydreaming” is a wide-ranging study of possible urban development solutions for cities that are imagined for very different urban settings, featuring a collection of research models and animations conceived by the pair. Marking the first time the brothers have worked on an urban development project, the exhibition explores possible environmental solutions through detailed case studies that reimagine the relationship between buildings, quality of pavements, positioning of fountains, and planting of a jungle.
14 proposals were selected for the Hong Kong exhibition, each of which explores different ways to incorporate nature into urban spaces. Through thought-provoking and immersive staging, viewers are transported into separate acts of an urban play. Each proposal, some of which have already been built in cities around the world, takes into consideration the needs of urban environments by reintroducing greenery, animals, water and fire into the city.
“Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec – Urban Daydreaming” invites audience to envision a smart, urban environment where dream-like solutions are made attainable. “Shelters and Rocks” dreams of a scenic viewpoint made of all-natural features – a gathering of rocks on the hilltop and covered by an aerial rooftop shelter – inviting the audience to discover the urban horizon. In a parallel scene, “Hanging Forest” describes a solution where opposites co-exist in an intertwined relationship of the static and artificial nature of the non-living and living objects, exploring how masts and platforms, in contrast with plants and trees, is embodied in a single vivid picture of an urban journey.
Other highlights of this exhibition include “Clouds”, a half-pergola, half-vegetal shelter that doubles as a floating garden; “Pergola”, a depiction of vegetation forming a shaded pathway; and “Platforms”, a multi-purpose structure as pedestals or large collective benches.
About Ronan & Erwan Bouroullec
Design duo and brothers Ronan (born 1971) and Erwan Bouroullec (born 1976) have been working together for 20 years. Their collaboration is a permanent dialogue nourished by their distinct personalities and a shared aim to synergise balance and finesse. Their work covers many fields ranging from the design of jewellery to spatial arrangements and architecture; craftsmanship to industrial-scale production; and drawings, videos and photography.
They have collaborated with many leading design companies, encompassing Vitra, Cassina, Artek, Danskina, Magis, Alessi, Galerie kreo, Established & Sons, Axor Hansgrohe, Flos, Kvadrat, Glas Italia, Kartell, Kettal, Iittala, Cappellini, Ligne Roset, Nani Marquina, Mattiazzi, Mutina, Samsung and Hay.
Several exhibitions have been devoted to their work and their designs have also become part of the permanent collections of select international museums, including Musée national d’art moderne in the Centre Pompidou and Musée des Arts décoratifs (Paris); Centre Pompidou Metz; the Design Museum (London); Museum of Contemporary Art (Los Angeles); Museum of Contemporary Art (Chicago); Musée des Arts Décoratifs (Paris); Vitra Design Museum (Weil am Rhein); FRAC Bretagne (Rennes); and Museum Boijmans Van Beuningen (Rotterdam).
