PRESS RELEASE

2022.6.10 vol.2

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo

Jean Prouvé: Constructive Imagination
Saturday, 16 July – Sunday, 16 October 2022
Jean Prouvé: Constructive Imagination is a large-scale
exhibition introducing the oeuvre of Jean Prouvé (1901–1984), whose influence remains significant in the 20thcentury architecture and industrial design. Organizedthematically, the exhibition will feature over a hundred
pieces of emblematic furniture and architectural works
along with archived materials.
Born to painter and musician parents active in Nancy
school, a group of the Art Nouveau movement thatflourished in the late 19th century in France, Prouvé began
his career as an artist–blacksmith. In the 1930s, heexpanded his field of production from furniture to1

architecture, turning to a more experimental, avant-garde approach by using new materials such assteel.
During and after the Second World War, he produced a number ofinnovative pieces such as prefabricated housing for post-war
reconstruction in France, while being active in the resistancemovement and serving as the mayor of Nancy for a brief period
during the war.
The exhibition begins by unfolding the chapters of Jean Prouvé’slife, followed by the presentation of a wide selection of iconic
pieces. They include the ”Centrale” table (1956), “Présidence” No.

201 desk (ca. 1955), Lighting ramp (1954), Rolling step-ladder(1951), and a unique prototype of Lift-up table with drawer (1943),
which was a milestone in Prouvé’s move towards industrialproduction, and panels with portholes.
2

In response to growing market demands
formassproduction,hedesignedfurniture for public authorities anduniversities in the 1930s. Among allfurniture, chairs remained particularly
significant for Prouvé, for they require
meeting imperatives of solidity andergonomics, as well as preserving theiraesthetic qualities. As he stated that34“…a viable structure for a piece of furniture is as difficult and skilful to compose as a structure for alarge construction,” chairs are a perfect example of Jean Prouvé’s constructive principles. The
exhibition dedicates a large section to the presentation of his chairs that underwent evolutions over
the years including “Cité” armchair (ca. 1932) and “Conférence” No. 355 chair (1954), among manyother models.

In the 1950s, Jean Prouvé sought markets overseas and created furniture and aluminum facades for
French colonial territories in Africa. The exhibition includes the series called “variant for Africa,” which
includes “S.A.M.” No. 506 table, variant for Africa (1952), “Tropique” No. 351 armchair (1950), and Sun
shutters made for Guinea and Cameroon.

56

Furthermore, over thirteen architectural projects will be on display, highlighting Prouvé’s approach toarchitecture as a “constructor” as he called himself. F 8x8 BCC house (1942), and 6x6 Demountable

house (1944) , “Métropole” house (1949)– Prouvé’s emblematic projects of dismountable architecture– will be one of the highlights of the exhibition. The structure of “Métropole” house will erupt in themiddle of the gallery and its facades will be displayed on the wall. The F 8x8 BCC house designed andbuilt by Prouvé and Pierre Jeanneret during the Second World War will be re-assembled in the Atrium.
The piece attests to the two men’s extraordinary faculty for adaptability and is a brilliant example oftheir unceasing quest for modernity. The 6x6 Demountable house, designed by Prouvé in 1944 as
temporarily housing for the refugees in Eastern France, will be presented as parts laid out on the wall.
All of these occupy an important place in the architectural history in France.
The exhibition comes to an end with a screening room with Prouvé’s lecture hall benches, which
visitors are invited to sit in order to view the archival footage that includes Prouvé’s interview. During
the exhibition, a series of public events such as a symposium, gallery tours, a children’s workshop andtalk sessions will be organized.

78About the curators of the exhibition
This exhibition is co-curated and designed by Patrick Seguin from Galerie Patrick Seguin which specializes
in 20th-century design and architecture, and the graphic designer Tamotsu Yagi from Tamotsu Yagi Design.
The exhibition gathers the pieces of the collections of Yusaku Maezawa, Patrick Seguin, Tamotsu Yagi andfrom the Prouvé family.

Student Day Supported by Bloomberg
From 30 August to 2 September, students can visit Jean Prouvé exhibition for free with a valid ID.

Exhibition Catalogue
The catalogue will be published from millegraph after late-August 2022.

Information
Exhibition Period

Sat. 16 July – Sun. 16 October 2022

ClosedMondays (except 18 Jul., 19 Sep., 10 Oct.), 19 Jul., 20 Sep., 11 Oct.

Opening hours

10:00－18:00 (Tickets available until 30 minutes before closing.)

Admission

Adults－2,000 yen / University & College Students, Over 65－1,300yen/High School & Junior High School Students－800 yen /Elementary School Students & Younger－Free*Student Day Supported by Bloomberg: 30, 31 Aug., 1, 2, Sep., student canvisit Jean Prouvé exhibition for free (with valid ID).

Venue

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Exhibition Gallery 1F / B2F

Organizers

Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo operated by Tokyo Metropolitan
Foundation for History and Culture, Contemporary Art Foundation

Curators
Academic support

Patrick Seguin (Galerie Patrick Seguin), Tamotsu Yagi (Tamotsu Yagi Design)
Tatsuo Iwaoka (Tokyo University of Science)

IMAGE REQUEST FORM
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1 Jean Prouvé in his office at the Ateliers Jean Prouvé, Maxéville, ca. 1955
© Centre Pompidou-MNAM/CCI-Bibliothèque Kandinsky-Dist. RMN-Grand Palais
2 Flyer design by Tamotsu Yagi Design
3 Demountable wooden chair CB 22, variant, 1947
© Galerie Patrick Seguin © ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2022 Ｃ3892
4 "Cafétéria" No. 300 chair, ca. 1950 Laurence and Patrick Seguin collection© Galerie Patrick Seguin © ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2022 Ｃ3892
5, 6 "Métropole" house, 1949 Galerie Patrick Seguin© Galerie Patrick Seguin © ADAGP, Paris & JASPAR, Tokyo, 2022 Ｃ3892
7, 8 Images can only be used for printed media. Please contact us for further information.