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PHARRELL WILLIAMS' TANK FURNITURE
US rapper and producer takes on furniture design in chair collaboration with the Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery in Paris
Text by David Hellqvist | Published 16 April 2010
Photo by Guillaume Ziccarelli Courtesy Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin, Paris & Miami
When super producer and big time rapper Pharrell Williams suddenly got an urge to design furniture, there was no stopping him. Thanks to his friendship with Parisian gallery owner Emmanuel Perrotin, Williams has been able to see his design ambitions come true. The chairs presented at the Emmanuel Perrotin Gallery are actually Williams' second batch. They were preceded by a chair inspired by Love and a sculpture in collaboration with Japanese artist Takashi Murakami. This time around, Williams looked towards War for inspiration. Dazed Digital spoke to the multi-talented creative....
Dazed Digital: Is the War theme a natural progression on from Love, which was the theme for your last furniture project, or were you just influenced by the state of the world we live in?
Pharrell Williams: I don't think that it's a natural progression, the series is called Perspective and they were both based on the way I felt at the moment I designed them. My inspiration and ideas are often based on curiosity stemming from things that I don't know about, or things I like to explore.
DD: Is it an 'angry' chair then?
Pharrell Williams: No, not at all. I'm not angry about anything. The Tank Chair follows the first design concept of me putting myself in someone else's shoes to understand what and how they are feeling. Here I focused on young men and women who join the military and put themselves in a position that can not be reversed, and end up in wars far from home, often not understanding why. The chairs are also in baby colours which clearly steers away from anger on purpose.
DD: How does the War theme show itself in the chair?
Pharrell Williams: Hmmm, the tank tracks?
DD: Are you moving on to other interior design ventures?
Pharrell Williams: Yes, I'm willing to accept any challenge that I'm curious about, especially artistically. I have been blessed to be introduced to people who believe in me and give me the opportunity to challenge myself.
DD: How did this project come about in the first place?
Pharrell Williams: A good friend of mine, Sabina Belli, introduced me to Emmanuel Perrotin. When I explained to him the ideas I had, he was very supportive and after teaming up with Domeau & Pérès, we created the first Perspective chair which was shown at Emmanuel's Paris gallery. The rest is history, as they say...
DD: Your 'main job' as a musician is creative as it is - does your creativity know no bounds?
Pharrell Williams: I don't believe that there should be any boundaries to creativity. If that was true, I would not be where I am today.
DD: Any new music coming our way?
Pharrell Williams: Sure, I'm basically in the studio everyday. I recently switched over to Logic which allows me to keep working while I'm on the road or at home so I'm never away from creating music. Besides working with other artists, we are putting the finishing touched on the new N*E*R*D album "Nothing" which will be out late spring. I'm really excited about the album: Shae, Chad and I are ready to take N*E*R*D to the next level!
Galerie Emmanuel Perrotin
76 rue de Turenne, Paris, 75003
GAP 40 YEARS POP-UP SHOP
The brand celebrates their 40th year with a new store in London's Kingly Court
Text by David Hellqvist | Published 18 September 2009
The sixties was a busy breeding ground for important movements, and 1969 in particular was saw several seminal events. In Woodstock for example, thousands of people gathered to celebrate music and the concept of rock festivals as we know it today was created. On the west coast, shimmering in the same light of creative inspiration, Don and Doris Fisher developed a brand a brand that has come to capture the style of affordable American preppy. Their motto ‘Jeans and Discs’ encouraged a line of denim that fitted perfect, while still staying within most people’s financial reach. Of course, GAP was a hit, and today they enjoy on a worldwide audience.
To celebrate the anniversary, GAP has opened up the doors on a pop-up shop in central London’s Kingly Court. Trading for 19 days and 69 hours, it pays homage to forty years of qualitative jeans by launching a special line of limited and numbered denim pants. Classic GAP collaborators like Pierre Hardy and Albertus Swanpoel has also contributed goods. Hardy’s piece is a denim version of his popular ankle boot, while Swanpoel adds a black riding hat in wool with a denim peak.
Also hard working music producer Pharrell Williams has helped out. His new Bionic GAP collection launches in Europe through the pop-up shop. Using yarn from recycled plastic bottles, Williams is updating GAP classics, such as khaki trousers, white T-shirts and grey marl hoodies, in his own characteristic style.
The music link continues, even adding a practical layer to the proceedings. An acoustic performance by VV Brown and a set by Taio Cruz add real star glamour to the Carnaby space. Anyone looking for an intimate art experience in the midst of all the jeans will be happy to find an exhibition by illustrator and photographer Garance Doré, who said of the event: “I was very honoured when GAP proposed the collaboration, it all seemed super natural for me. I am also very inspired by the 40 year celebration, because the beginning of the 70s was such a fascinating time for fashion”. Her street portraits and illustrations will focus on what both Doré and GAP cherish more than anything; intricate yet subtle details. Happy Birthday GAP!
Is there anything this man can’t do? Not satisfied with producing and remixing chart topping hits for others, mucking about with his own Hip-Hop/R’n’B/Rock band, controlling record label Star Trak and designing Ice Cream and BBC with Nigo, Pharrell now has an exhibition at legendary Paris gallery Emmanuel Perrotin. And oh, did I mention that he also designed his own sunglasses range for Louis Vuitton a while back? Some people just got it all, don’t they? Hopefully I’m better than him at something. I bet I speak better Swedish...
And now he designs furniture. Two of his creations – one with the legs of a lion, the other with human ones - are on display at the mentioned gallery. As you can see, they’re what you would expect; loud, colourful and shiny.Inspired by the Eames chair, they come in different colours and you can choose between a leather or veal skin seat. I’m more of a veal person myself, so I’ll have one of those in yellow please, Pharrell. How much is the postage to Bethnal Green?
www.galerieperrotin.com
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