The title of the exhibition is a playful reference to the famous French saying ‘Je t'aime à la folie’ (which translates to madly in love), perfectly describes Le Gall’s personal nature and approach to creation. Shying away from being categorised into a single artistic field, Le Gall takes an eccentric approach to art. This exhibition demonstrates his love for art and craft with works ranging across various artistic styles and inspirations. Is he a sculptor, or is he a designer? He is neither one nor the other. He often cites: ‘I am as much Geppetto (carpenter) as I am Pinocchio (storyteller)’ – referencing the Disney classic, which inspired two of the presented artworks in the exhibition: The Pinocchio Floor Lamp (2014) and The Pinocchio Cabinet (2018).
Starting out as a painter, Le Gall now creates sculptural works which are often playful re-interpretations of classics of art history. There are no limits to what fascinates and inspires him: XVII and XVIII century furniture, Pop Art, Surrealism, craftsmanship from Chinese Dynasties, Japanese culture and Greek mythology to name just a few.
À la folie! will present two major recent works by the artist: L’Eternel Printemps (2018) and The Pasiphaé (2022). Both are prime examples of the cross-pollination of diverse cultural themes and new narratives. The L’Eternel Printemps, a 500 kg bronze bar cabinet, presents the figure of a contorted horse tempted by the forbidden fruit in what seems like a new version of Paradise. The sculptural figure of the horse is inspired by the form of a Japanese Netsuke - a small wooden carved sculpture originating in 17th century Japan. The Pasiphaé, with its body shaped as a bending bull, is a creation that tells the Greek mythological tale of Pasiphaé and the creation of the Minotaur. The use of materials such as bronze, glass, wood and tapestry exemplify his true passion for noble materials and craftsmanship.
À la folie! is an invitation to bring you back to childhood memories and fantasy. One will be surrounded by creations stemming from the artist’s overflowing imagination which lies somewhere between contemporary art and decorative objects. Through this collection by Hubert Le Gall, this exhibition represents his youthful spirit while emanating a child-like wonder for art.
About the Artist
Hubert Le Gall (b. 1961, France) work is a bold combination of sophistication and playfulness. He is a fixed star on the international design scene, he exhibits and sells his work globally. Working out of his studio in Montmartre, Paris, Le Gall uses bronze, brass, exotic woods, and velvet to create functional objects that play on a wide variety of themes. Le Gall references iconic Pop artists like Andy Warhol and Roy Lichtenstein as well as historical luxury goods and furniture designs. Le Gall’s work is found in many prestigious private and public collections worldwide, including Musée La Piscine in Roubaix and Montreal’s Musée des Beaux-Arts. He has held solo exhibitions at the Musée des Arts Décoratifs at the Château Borély in Marseille, the Musée de Beaux-Arts in Riom and at Villa Kérylos at the French Centre de Monuments Historiques.
