Precious Strength | Maria Pergay Across the Decades
October 24 - November 30, 2024
Demisch Danant is honored to announce Precious Strength | Maria Pergay Across the Decades, an upcoming exhibition dedicated to the pioneering French artist and designer Maria Pergay. The exhibition will run from October 24 to November 30, 2024, and will showcase a comprehensive collection of Pergay's most emblematic pieces, presented together for the very first time and many of which have not been displayed for close to two decades.
Maria Pergay, who passed away in October 2023 at the age of 93, left an indelible mark on the world of design. Her innovative use of stainless steel and distinctive style redefined modern luxury. Through her life, her boundary-pushing designs elevated the possibilities of contemporary furniture design.
Precious Strength is more than a display of furniture; it is an immersive experience that invites visitors to delve into the mind of a designer who continually redefined the boundaries of her craft. The exhibition will be organized into a series of interior vignettes, designed by gallery co-founders Suzanne Demisch and Stéphane Danant, evoking Pergay's unique aesthetic and the environments in which her pieces were originally showcased. Visitors will have the opportunity to explore her work in a setting that reflects her personal style and vision. By incorporating elements from all periods of her career, the exhibition underscores the timelessness of her designs and the innovative spirit that drove her work.
Without formal training particular to design, nor outside support, Maria Pergay pursued her creative instincts working relatively alone. When questioned, she refused to be designated solely as an artist, designer or decorator, but described herself as a servant to her own creative impulses. She worked in broad strokes, concentrating on the physicality of ideas rather than the details. The self-proclaimed “captor of ideas” defied the demand to produce according to one theme over a singular period of time, rather creating as her inspiration came, without schedule or structure. Having pioneered the use of stainless steel in furniture, she ceaselessly challenged the inherent limitations of her primary material, combining it with striking effect with mother of pearl, lacquer, and precious woods. She introduced and revisited materials and motifs – not with a sense of repetition – but rather as manifestations of her creative vocabulary. Drawing from a multitude of sources, she was provoked by antiquity, Japanese art and the innate nature of her materials – conjuring a voice so individual that many of her pieces would not receive recognition until years after they were created.
It is with great pride that Suzanne Demisch and Stéphane Danant have been some of Pergay’s most fervent champions and closest collaborators over the past 30 years. Their first encounter with Pergay’s creations in the 1990s and the subsequent long lasting personal relationship they developed with the designer – after tracking her down in Morocco through the Yellow Pages – played a fundamental role in the establishment of Demisch Danant.
Maria Pergay was a visionary who challenged the conventions of her time, says Suzanne Demisch. Her ability to infuse functional objects with poetic elegance set her apart. This exhibition is not a retrospective; it is a celebration of her enduring influence and a testament to her timeless design philosophy.
Precious Strength will present approximately thirty-five works, including rare and iconic pieces from the first half of the designer’s career such as the Table Cocktail Carrée, 1968, Chaise Suspendue, 1968, Chaise Anneaux, 1968, Rainbow Table, 1975. The exhibition will also feature works she introduced later in life and in close collaboration with Demisch Danant, such as the Mother of Pearl Cabinet, 2008 and Bronze Tree, 2016. The pieces will be presented alongside personal objects, archival imagery, documentation, original sketches, and videos, providing a multi-faceted view of her artistic journey.
Stéphane Danant adds, Our intention with 'Precious Strength' is to offer a new perspective on Maria’s work, highlighting the evolution of her creative process and the consistent themes that define her oeuvre. Through this exhibition, we hope to cement her place in the lexicon of design history and inspire a new generation to appreciate her contributions. In addition to the physical exhibition, Demisch Danant will also provide access to interviews and videos, including those conducted by Demisch in Morocco in 2003, offering deeper insights into Pergay's creative process and personal reflections on her work.
We want people to understand that Maria Pergay was not just a designer but a true pioneer. As a woman, she struggled against the limitations of her time as she emerged as a leading figure in design, concludes Demisch. Her work deserves to be recognized alongside other great women designers like Charlotte Perriand and Eileen Gray.
Portrait by Javier Salas.