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Karl Lagerfeld's first sculpture exhibition features marble fountains, tables and mirrors

Fashion legend Karl Lagerfeld is presenting his first ever exhibition of sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris.

Tables, fountains and mirrors are among the marble objects being presented in the show, called Architectures, which was developed with in collaboration with architect Aline Asmar d'Amman.

Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery

Lagerfeld, who is creative director at Chanel, cites antiquity, Greek architecture and the golden ratio among his inspirations for the designs.

The German creative said that for him, antiquity refers to the "origin of beauty, culture and modernity".

The monochromatic collection also includes gueridons (circular side tables), lamps and consoles. Each piece is carved from a carefully selected block of rare Arabescato fantastico or black nero marquina marble.

Arabescato fantastico is a vibrant white marble with dark grey veins, which has not been quarried for more than 30 years, while black nero marquina marble features brush stroke-like, milky white veins.

According to Lagerfeld, the designs were improvised, with the aim to highlight the beauty of the material.

"I love things that aren't planned," explains Lagerfeld in a film made to accompany the exhibition. "The process is not as premeditated as you think. I'm totally improvised, I improvise."

"The marble workshops in Italy, you can't imagine the beauty of their work," he continues. "These are precious stones. It's black and white, but a black and white with striation, almost grey. It's not a hard contrast of black and white."

Several objects in the collection feature elements that resemble the decorative columns of Classical architecture.

The table lamps come with hand-painted shades, and also diffuse a specific temperature of light particularly appreciated by Lagerfeld.

"The ensemble materialises the perfect balance of classical foundations with a present-day vibe, like a modern mythology," said Carpenters Workshop Gallery about the collection.

"Shifting between the antique and the contemporary, the icons of classics and the finest present skills, the black and white architectonic creations embody Karl Lagerfeld's timeless monochromatic style."

 

Architectures has been produced in a limited edition, with eight pieces in each marble colour, plus four artist proofs. It will be show at Carpenters Workshop Gallery in Paris until 23 December 2018.

The gallery, which already has outposts in Paris, London and New York, recently opened a new branch in San Francisco, located in a former church.

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Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery
Karl Lagerfeld debuts sculptural works at Carpenters Workshop Gallery