Christophe Gevers, 2001 (photo Jean-Pierre Gabriel)
The exhibition held at the Fondation pour l'Architecture in Brussels is the first exhaustive inventory of Christophe Gevers' work. He was an exquisite inventor, particularly productive and very personal, whose abundant production came from the same universe, the same rigourous creative approach. The same direction he was teaching for 33 years at the "Ecole nationale supérieure des arts visuels" of La Cambre (Brussels), to several generations of product designers and interior designers.
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| TBA Chair, 1959 |
Stool, 1958 |
Interior designer and product designer, Christophe Gevers was born in Antwerp (Belgium) in 1928 and died on June 19 2007 in Ohain (Belgium). Professor from 1960 to 1993 at the interior design and furniture design department of La Cambre. Author of various important projects, public and private, among which the restaurants for the Niels brothers, still existing and very trendy. Creator of furniture and lighting, he created his own company GeversDesign, from which certain items are still edited today by Quattro Benelux and Axis 71.
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| Axis 71 Lamp |
Gevers Design Spot |
His projects were realised thanks to the impulse of both private initiatives and public administrations. Among his most important realisations, there are office designs, theatres, auditorium, a cultural centre, a conference centre, restaurants, taverns, laboratories, various boutiques and private appartments. Gevers executed the first Quick Louise fast-food restaurant in Brussels, followed by those in Paris, Bordeaux and Milan.
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| Twins movie theater |
Soc Gén de Banque, lounge (photo M. Wybauw)
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If he called himself 'decorator', it was out of pure derision. To the names of product designer or interior designer, Gevers prefered to be called an artist or a space constructor. His own creative universe, very personal and remarkably pluridisciplinary, comes out of the series of handicrafts of which he had a particularly strong perception.
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| Mould to bend plexiglas |
Model of a staircase |
The power and coherence of the universe of Gevers rise from an absolute control of his work: control of the materials (that he used directly to make the models), that of his collaborators (that he stimulated and directed from his office/home), that also of his workshop at La Cambre (with his powerful influence on his students).
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| Cap d’Argent Lamp |
Gevers Design Lamp |
His choices of materials such as wood, steel, stone and leather, are dependent on time which will only make them more beautiful. His constant research to overcome ancient knowledge and those of his contemporaries, brought pragmatism, equilibrium and creativity into his creations.
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| Game |
Animated prototype for the fastfood Quick, 1983 |
Christophe Gevers is the inventor of a personal universe, very interior, without any influence, nor concession and of an exemplary continuity.
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| Gevers' office and desk in Ohain |
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"If 'decoration' is synonymous of artificial facade, for me, it cannot exist. Only proportions and materials count. Proportions in two and three dimensions are dependent of the spaces to arrange (decorate), the materials are chosen according to the destination of these spaces." Christophe Gevers, March 20 1973
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| Gevers' workshop in Ohain |
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"...I believe I became a designer, because I was interested in the present, which is the future and the past is out of date." Christophe Gevers, 2006
The exhibition was conceived and realised by Archives Design Projects, an association founded by Thierry Belenger, which aims to promote and protect Belgian after-war design.
Curators: Thierry Aughuet, Thierry Belenger, Michel Bries, Isabelle Steemans
All photos are courtesy H. Charles/D.Marlé (except when mentioned)
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Logo Gevers Design
Exhibition from May 21 to August 17 2008
Fondation pour l'Architecture
55, rue de l'Ermitage, 1050 Brussels, Belgium
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tags: 
Fantastic !!