Design contre design at Grand Palais rethinks design history

The exhibition 'Design contre design' at the Galeries nationales du Grand Palais in Paris (September 26, 2007 – January 7, 2008) challenges conventional narratives of design history. Curated by Jean-Louis Gaillemin, it avoids ideological debates and chronological order, instead presenting a thematic cabinet of curiosities. Gaillemin argues that modern forms were already present in the 18th century, particularly in neoclassical furniture, before industrial manufacturing. The show juxtaposes pieces from different eras, such as Eero Saarinen's Tulip armchair (1956) and a Danhauser armchair (1830), to highlight recurring silhouettes. However, this approach downplays the revolutionary impact of industrial production and materials like polyester. The exhibition focuses on exceptional domestic objects—mainly furniture and tableware—and explores influences such as biomorphism, antiquity, primitivism, recycled materials, and surrealism. Notably absent are Le Corbusier, Pierre Jeanneret, Charlotte Perriand, and Jean Prouvé, though their work is referenced through contemporary homages, like Stefan Zwicky's concrete version of the Corbu club chair and John Angelo Benson's straw version. The show ultimately suggests that modernism failed to produce affordable objects for the masses, as most pieces are now museum-quality, expensive, and rare.