Overview by Elliott Barnes
Inspired by the memories of childhood landscapes from French-American architect and decorator Elliott Barnes, Overview represents a spontaneous and graphic California style that is reminiscent of the 1970s.
A long-standing partner of Tai Ping, with whom he shares values of quality and excellence in craftsmanship, Elliott Barnes is known for his elegant, sober and refined style. A former collaborator and later partner of Andrée Putman, the Los Angeles-born architect and decorator founded his Parisian office in 2004. He has been responsible for remarkable residential and hospitality projects in France and abroad, and was awarded the project of designing the new Tai Ping showroom in Paris.
The designer’s trip down memory lane is portrayed from an aerial perspective where the glow of the City of Angels is captured through sunsets and the blending of lights from cars, buildings and streetlamps.
At the heart of the collection, are the designs Mulholland I and Mulholland II. These works were inspired by memories of Elliott Barnes accompanying his parents on Sunday drives on the avenue in the family’s Chevrolet after screenings at The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. The designs are distinguished by their luminous spots, materialised by remarkable shades of wool and silk.
Meticulous execution around the effects of light and depth are also found in Arroyo Seco I with its flat tints of powdered pinks, illuminated by touches of lurex as points of flickering lights at dusk. The same is true of DTLA I, thanks in part to the intricate work of carving and sculpting — skills mastered to perfection by Tai Ping craftspeople — that creates an urban landscape of light and shadow.
Evoking contrasting and colourful cartographies, Cienega I portrays the roads and landscapes of the architect’s childhood neighbourhood, while WeHo I, named after the epicentre of design in Los Angeles, pays homage to the design profession and colleagues that have inspired Elliott Barnes.
With its bold aesthetic and bright, eye-catching colours, Overview gives a nod to pop art and to the boundless energy of California with a certain refined elegance that is uniquely Tai Ping.
Wool, Dull Silk, & Lurex
AV Arroyo Seco I
Wool & Dull Silk
Wool, Dull Silk, & LurexAV DTLA I
Mulholland I
AV Mulholland II
Wool & Dull SilkAV WeHo I
AV Mulholland I
