'Anthropieces': How far must anthropism be taken for self-expression in design?

"A certain anthropism is inescapable," argues the design exhibition Anthropieces, Galerie Philia's latest intervention at the Sceners design gallery in Paris, France. With bases in Mexico, Singapore, the United States and Switzerland, Philia is owned by two brothers with distinct academic backgrounds and a shared passion for art, philosophy and literature, which makes their curatorial approach 'rhizomatic and transcultural'. For Anthropieces, which is running from January 16 – February 22, 2025, Philia curates a journey by underlining the dichotomous nature of the design exhibits, which are made from naturally sourced materials.

In the show, the furniture designs by multiple designers are positioned in relationship with one another, where varying opinions and conceptual designs collide in an argument only to realise that at their cores, they infringe upon natural resources to shape their selfish desires. The show comprises new sculptural design pieces by German designer Niclas Wolf and Belgian designer Pierre de Valck (introduced by Philia) alongside known works by Swiss architect Pierre Jeanneret and luxury brand house Rick Owens (presented by Sceners). Through its showcase, Anthropieces explores the ways and degrees of marring that natural elements—such as stone, wood and vegetation, even animals—can be subjected to, for the sake of artistic expression.

The Geoprimitive collection by Niclas Wolf seems to have surfaced from deep beneath the earth, fostering a deeper connection between humanity and nature. The ceramic designs comprise a side table, an occasional table, two sculptural vases and a set of three candlesticks that emerge as powerful rock formations, reminiscent of the 'volcanic, stormy earth', its vigour and wrath. Wolf's works also include a coffee table, a vase, a bowl, an armchair and another side table forged with minimal interference and modifications to its telluric forms, preserving their bold character and distinct identity while imbuing them with function.

Born in Brussels and based in Ghent, designer Pierre de Valck presents sculptural designs inspired by the wonder, excitement and mystery of an archaeological find, featuring crystals as centrepieces, enveloped by cylindrical forms of aluminium and patinated bronze. The Round Cabinet With Stone (Rough Jade) piece is a little over half a metre in diameter, with a non-uniform rough jade stone that draws the eye of the visitors to its centre. The Timetable and Bow Console table designs feature a lapis lazuli and a rough crystal, respectively, representing the fusion of human craftsmanship and natural materials.

The collaborative showcase features renowned works of architect Pierre Jeanneret, who created several wooden furniture designs from 1955 –1964 for institutions in Chandigarh, India, including a sofa design for the High Court of Punjab and Haryana, circa 1963-1964. His older works include pairs of kangaroo lounge chairs and the Cross-leg Easy chairs, a Cross-leg sofa, a Floating office chair and Connected office chair made from teak wood and caning. Jeanneret's tables, the rack, the library table and the dismountable desk embody the strong contemporary character of the 1950s.

Pairs of Stag and Tomb Stag chair designs by Rick Owens are designed as each other's mirror image, featuring moose antlers as backrests and bases made from burnt and painted plywood and white elm respectively. The basalt variant of the Tomb Stag chair and the daybed exude a mysterious elegance with their monochromatic designs.

The designers' distinct outlooks are communicated through the Anthropieces exhibition: While Wolf is in awe of the wrath of nature and attempts to mimic natural geological formations, de Valck and Jeanneret deform, process and present the natural materials in perfectly polished surfaces and strongly geometrical product designs that flaunt the prowess of human intervention and craftsmanship. In conjunction, Owens takes anthropism even further by using animal remains as objects of decoration and human comfort.

Returning to the show's description, the galleries pose, "A certain anthropism is inescapable. And if we refuse to maintain a vision that makes us the sole masters and possessors of nature, then a fragmented, limited and thoughtful mastery remains necessary to both our survival and our expression."

"In this exhibition…this is what is at stake: the extent to which self-expression should mar, or even violate, the natural elements that make up the works. How far should the invited artists restrict themselves, in favour of what stones, woods, plants and natural dyes expressed before them? How far must metals, clay and a rare diversity of elements be transformed to allow the artist's singular expression?" they question.

Organised by Galerie Philia, 'Anthropieces' is on view from January 16 – February 22, 2025, at the Sceners Gallery in Paris, France.