ARCHITEXTURE
Eileen Gray - A modern woman of the last century
David Tourniaire-Beauciel, the creative director of Clergerie, was inspired in his architecture collection, by the iconic works of Eileen Gray in creating shoe models with abstract geometric principles and simple lines.
The Architecture collection by Clergerie is a tribute to this woman who carved out her space in the hostile, male-centric world of Modernism. Through models with graphic lines and singular materials, this collection seeks to praise this artistic pioneer.
A painter, an architect, and a decorator all together, Eileen Gray was a woman of many talents who marked the twentieth century by not only her work but also her attitude. Bold and surprising, she has explored geometric shapes and industrial materials to create innovative and unique works.
Born into an aristocratic Irish family in 1878, Eileen Gray spent most of her life in France. Eileen Gray discovered Japanese and East-Asian lacquerware materials and furniture attractively covered with lacquer. She started combinig lacquer to her work and dust it with decorative powder to make her design.
In 1926, She designed an iconic villa, with no architectural training: Villa E-1027, a seaside villa in Roquebrune Cap-Martin in France. Built in an L-shape with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the sea and a spiral staircase; It inspired especially Le Corbusier who painted 8 fresques.
The work of this great artist resonated deeply with David Tourniaire-Beauciel
"I was looking for a strong figure to embody the Fall/Winter 2022 collection, Eileen Gray is the perfect example. A woman in a man's world with a lot of codes who knew how to stand out from the crowd and offer an avant-garde work. That's the image I have for the Clergerie woman in a way."
FALL WINTER COLLECTION 2022 INSPIRED BY EILEEN GRAY
© Portrait of Eileen Gray by Berenice Abott by PThalia