Charles Eames

Charles Eames' Mythomaniac Interview

- "Draw me a sheep"
- "No! Design me a myth!"

A true titan of intergalactic design thanks to several flagship creations combining wood, resin, and fiberglass, Charles Eames, 117 years old and possessing an Audiard-esque wit, continues to leave his mark across the globe.

Charles Eames
"With The Woods, I am going to knock out what will henceforth be my most beautiful Parisian showcase"

After a studious summer revamping the visual identity of the Saupiquet head office in Vezoul, he is now at the helm of a Parisian project matching his own grandiosity: conceiving the decor for The Woods gallery in the 18th arrondissement. We met up.

ALAIN POSTEUR: For those who might not know you yet, you are to design what Saupiquet is to couscous and sausages: iconic... (he interrupts)

CHARLES EAMES: Tell me about it.

ALAIN POSTEUR: Don't be modest. If you had a few words to summarize your greatest creations?

CHARLES EAMES: (Sipping his Perrier with a slice of lime) Wooden splints for the wounded during the Second World War; the DSW chair (Dining Sidechair Wooden base), which would become the very first industrially produced fiberglass and resin chair in the late 50s; the lounge chair, made of leather and wood... I'll stop there, for the rest, you have Wikipedia.

ALAIN POSTEUR: What led you to this project in partnership with The Woods gallery?

CHARLES EAMES: I'd known Simon and Lauren since 2010; we met at a pony camp in Chaville. Lauren immediately captivated me with her modern vision of ready-to-wear and what she wanted to create; as for Simon, he had a badass beard that commanded respect. And I thought he wore his Pegasuses with flair. We also had this shared passion for Beat 2 boule and Capone & Noreaga. When they had the idea of setting up this gallery together, it was only natural that I offered to handle the layout and the "color" of the furniture and objects for sale.

ALAIN POSTEUR: What were your watchwords for this decor?

CHARLES EAMES: Dwarf, finger, rung.

ALAIN POSTEUR: Go on...

CHARLES EAMES: Dwarf, with the mischievous injected-plastic statuettes designed by Ottmar Hörl. Finger, with the irreverent resin sculptures by artist Maurizio Cattelan - and cactus, too, with the iconic piece from the Italian publisher Gufram. And rung, with chairs and armchairs of my own creation, all made of fiberglass.

Charles & Ray Eames House

ALAIN POSTEUR: One of your most famous trademarks, these chairs...

CHARLES EAMES: If you say so, buddy. Besides, the Parisian customers had better hurry, because with Simon's gift of the gab, they’re selling like hotcakes.

ALAIN POSTEUR: Are you satisfied with the gallery's visual result?

CHARLES EAMES: You bet I am. At The Woods, I am going to knock out what will henceforth be my most beautiful Parisian showcase! Alongside Pierre Paulin desks and George Nelson's Swag Leg Chairs, they’re going to install (miming scratching on the Saarinen table he is leaning on) a pair of MK2s for the Star Wars party taking place at the gallery next March. Benjamin from The Pocket Factory will exclusively present sets combining entomology and 70s Star Wars figurines. And as a bonus, with a few guests dressed as stormtroopers, no doubt: we will clearly be on the dark side of the farce.

Text: Benjamin PIETRI