François Azambourg / De l'air, du vent, du souffle

From 3 to 24 September 2022, Galerie 8+4 presents a series of original and unpublished creations by designer François Azambourg on the theme of air, breath and wind.

François Azambourg's work is driven by the question of lightness. For him, air is a material in its own right, but one that is rarely exploited by designers. When the designer mentions the idea of lightness, it is not only a physical reality but also the protocols he likes to put in place. The lightness of gesture and thought, and of implementation, as for example with glass, you take molten clay and blow. For François Azambourg, working with air, wind and pressure is a way of taking a stand. He likes to remind us that air weighs only 1.2 g per litre. This lightness motivates and links all his work. A set of glass blown pieces, flying drawings and propeller mobiles can be seen at the gallery during the exhibition.

Opening on 9 September from 3pm to 9pm in partnership with Paris Design Week

François Azambourg explores the expressive potential of manufacturing processes and the shaping of materials, whether they are industrial or artisanal, innovative or traditional. Trained in electrical engineering and then at the Beaux-Arts and ENSAAMA Olivier de Serres, the designer engages his practice in research situations and devotes his work to the alliance of techniques and art, specific to the applied arts, with a constant concern for economy of means and lightness.

François Azambourg collaborates with the Friends of the Centre Pompidou, AA New Design, Atelier d'Exercices, Bernard Chauveau Édition, Cappellini, Chevalier, Cinna, CIAV (Centre international d'art verrier), Domeau & Pérès, Domestic, Earth Republic Japan, Hermès, Hermès petit h, galerie kreo, Lancôme, Lignes de Démarcation, Ligne Roset, galerie MiniMasterepiece, Moustache, Oxyo, Poltrona Frau, Manufacture de Sèvres, Saint-Luc (DCS), Toulemonde Bochart, Louis Vuitton.

He was awarded the Villa Kujoyama in 2015, the Grand Prix du Design de Paris in 2004 and the Villa Médicis hors-les-murs in 2003. His work has been exhibited in numerous places, including the Festhalle Frankfurt, the Milan Furniture Fair, Wanted Design in New York, Design Week in Tokyo, Maison&Objet, Designer's Days, Musée des Arts Décoratifs, Villa Noailles, Palais de Tokyo and the Centre Pompidou. His creations have been included in the collections of the FNAC, the Musée des Arts Décoratifs in Paris and the Centre Pompidou. François Azambourg has been teaching at the ENSCI - les Ateliers since 2004.