Gergei Erdei Knows The Objects of Your Desire
What objects are currently on your wish list? Whatever they are, prepare for that list to grow, times six, to be exact.
Launching on 1 April is former Gucci designer Gergei Erdei's capsule collection Objects of Desire, featuring a dazzling array of hand-painted folding screens that are more than just a pretty picture. Think traditional cotton canvas windbreakers meet Jean Cocteau's villa of dreams 'la villa tatouée' on the French Riviera: the combination of dreams that not only shows off Erdei's immense creative talent but his divine ability to tell stories through the ever-illustrious power of illustration.
If the Roman Empire and Renaissance Italy had one thing in common, it was murals - and lots of them. While the Romans preferred to sketch scenes from gladiator contests, gardens and Greek mythology (particularly where Dionysos was concerned), fresco painting during the Renaissance thrived, reaching its peak during this period thanks to the likes of Leonardo da Vinci and Michelangelo, whose religious depictions are still glorified around the world today and although Erdei's decorative murals stray far from Jesus' Last Supper, their intention is the same. In the words of the designer himself, Erdei's goal is rooted in 'creating meticulously crafted evocative pieces to make you dream'.
The screens - made to signify the start of an artistic journey - pay homage to the rich history of illustrative wall art while also nodding to Erdei's own antique Roman and surrealist inspirations. Commenting on the popularity of murals and where his own new work sits within this context, Erdei said in a statement to press: 'Since ancient times, humans have adorned walls with art, from cave paintings to modern frescoes. I found it fascinating we continue this tradition with our walls, prompting me to reflect. The screens stand impressively tall at 2.3m, acting as a highly decorative partition between the owner and the outside world. They present a plain facade on one side but immerse you into an illustrated universe on the other'.
Honing his skill while immersed in the colourful world of Alessandro Michele's Gucci, it's no wonder Erdei's eye has translated so naturally to homeware design that speaks for itself. 'I feel the whole world of fashion is all about dreaming and making people dream', Erdei revealed to SHOWstudio. 'It’s all about awaking desire for something you don’t need but you just want to own it because it’s beautiful and there is a fantasy around. I get the same desire when I look at the works of artists like Serge Roche, Jean Dunand or André Dubreuil'.
Handcrafted in Hungary and intricately painted by hand using dry brush techniques in London, each screen acts as a testament to Erdei's vision. The handcrafted element that's so intrinsic to the artist's process and identity as a designer also forms the main traction behind this series, which is something not just important to Erdei, but also to today's conscious consumers.
From The Hunters Screen and Columns of Pompeii, both of which capture the richness and decay of Pompeii's crumbling murals to the 1930s-inspired masterpieces - the Bérard Boiserie evokes the sophisticated entrance hall decor of Guerlain Paris crafted by François Bérard in 1930 just as Fighting Leopards also harks back to this period's whimsical elegance as seen in its surrealist publications - each screen dutifully bounces between different time periods, making the artwork as definitive and unique as the inspirations behind them. Other decades referenced are the 60s and 20s, the former depicting a male figure holding the moon and a dove, symbolising peace, while the Barbier screen adorns itself entirely in warm gold leaves, paying tribute to George Barbier's illustration for the cover of The Songs of Bilitis, in 1922.
Whether you've just moved to a new postcode and feel as though your interiors are looking a bit worse for wear, or you know a spring revamp is just the thing to boost your mood, owning a Gergei Erdei screen doesn't just allude to sophistication and hand-crafted elegance, it also means your buying a piece of history, too.
