Modern Mythology

Through his surrealistic furniture pieces, hubert le gall seamlessly weaves fantasy into reality

- Pameyla Cambe

Ancient Greek legends tell us of mortals transformed into monsters and animals, or of objects transformed into living beings. These metamorphoses take place as naturally as ice melts into water, all on the whims of a god enamoured or angered. The stories are pure fiction, of course, but walking through Hubert Le Gall’s latest retrospective, one can’t help but wonder if there was some truth to them after all.

For the first time, Hubert Le Gall: Welcome to My World brings the renowned works of the eponymous French artist designer to Asia. Presented at Mazel Galerie, Le Gall’s creations appear to be caught in the act of metamorphosis, with animals cleverly disguising themselves as objects that can slip into your home without anyone so much as batting an eye. On one corner is a table whose leg merges seamlessly with the tail of a resting dog; on the other, an ostrich masquerades as a floor lamp, its head peeking out from beneath the lampshade.

There is definitely a whimsical quality to Le Gall’s work, but appearances are where that playfulness ends: mostly made of bronze (“the medium of the sculptor”), the furniture pieces boast a contrasting seriousness in their impeccable craftsmanship. This, and the fact that Le Gall chooses to make objects in extremely limited productions of eight or 25 pieces, is what makes his furniture a prized possession for collectors all around the world.

This begs the question: Do Le Gall’s works fall under art or design?