Galerie kreo is pleased to present “ the enlightened 50s: iconic french lighting from a modern decade ”, a new vintage exhibition showing an exquisite selection of pieces by French designers from the 1950s.

The 1950s marked a jubilant period of reconstruction and renovation in war-torn France. Indeed one might say that innovation in lighting during this decade emerged as a reaction against the darkness of the previous years. For architects, designers and manufacturers, the diffusion of light became an essential focus of research. The austerity and formalism of the pre-war time was replaced by a more organic design, fit for everyday use. Functionality and flexibility became central concerns and gave way to forms that had not been seen before: articulated arms, pivots and interchangeable stems to reach the farthest corners.

The group of young designers that gave rise to this innovative movement – Pierre Guariche, Michel Mortier, Joseph-André Motte, Jean-Boris Lacroix and Jacques Biny – shared a desire to re-think shapes and introduce colour in interiors. Their creative vision, alongside the introduction of new materials like aluminium and steel in lighting design, was fostered by brave manufacturers such as Pierre Disderot, Luminalite and Robert Mathieu thus enabling them to reach a wider market.

It is this very modernity that Galerie kreo wants to celebrate with this exhibition dedicated to mid-century lighting designers: a modernity that is still inspiring and relevant today.