Vincent and Anne Corbière | Meditations On Movement

Meditations on Movement, featuring the visionary creations of French sculptor-designer Vincent Corbière, alongside collaborative pieces with textile designer-artist and partner, Anne Corbière.

“The notion of Movement is at the center of my creative process. It expresses the presence and personality of my designs, be they furniture or sculptures. Movement brings to life the pieces I imagine; it is their genesis”.

Vincent’s disciplined artistic approach significantly influences his creations, drawing inspiration from travel, history, literature, art, and music. Employing fluting techniques reminiscent of ancient Greco-Roman columns, Vincent’s journey with wood began during his tenure with Compagnons du Devoir, where he honed his skills in classical guitar making. French Walnut and Oak, seasoned for years, form the basis of his work, accentuating their unique character with natural imperfections guiding his designs’ curves and volumes.

The selected pieces, spanning from 2014 to the present, showcase Vincent’s mastery of woodcraft. For the first time, we present Vincent’s work as material meditations revealing decades of artistry. Sculptures and furniture are grouped to explore form, texture experiments, and traditional handcraft. His meditations on movement transcend the mind and extend into gestures of the hand.

Vincent’s adept use of metal in his creations serves as a seamless complement to his designs. With a primary focus on materials like mild-steel, brass, and various alloys, he captivates audiences with the fusion of strength and delicacy inherent in his metalwork. Vincent meticulously hand-forges both small and large components to exact shapes and sizes, showcasing his precision in design.

Anne describes her textile work as “transformable, rhythmic, and flowing.” The incorporation of intricate weaving techniques add depth and richness to her textiles. The interplay of silver and gold within a diverse range of materials like chenille, suede, silk, vinyl, and bouclette create a multi-dimensional aesthetic. Anne seamlessly integrates these different materials, allowing them to interact and complement each other to form a cohesive whole.

Anne and Vincent’s collaboration unfolds narratives inspired by an imaginary assortment of objects and flora, collected by Orlando, the time-traveling, multicultural, transgender protagonist from Virginia Woolf’s novels. The exhibition serves as a testament to Vincent’s desire to illustrate narratives through his creations, transcending mere functionality to deliver a profound artistic experience.