The Radiant Fortnight 4 Architecture, Contemporary Art, Design

"Work in Quarantine Christian Ragot
"La Ferme radieuse and the cooperative village Norbert Bézard - Le Corbusier

"Travaux en quarantaine" looks back at the singular career of designer Christian Ragot. It features a number of his creations, dating from the 1960s to the present day, and covering a wide range of practices: texts, drawings, photos, participatory actions, etc. The objects on display question our lifestyles with lucidity, poetry and humour, and are like proposals for transforming society.
Halfway between design and art, they are first and foremost witnesses to the singular, committed and constantly evolving artistic approach of a non-mainstream designer.

"Travaux en quarantaine" follows on from two previous retrospectives of Christian Ragot's work: "Objets hors quarantaine" (Abbaye des Prémontrés, Pont à Mousson, 2001) and "Objets en quarantaine" (Casino de Luxembourg, 2003).

An attempt to define design by Christian Ragot:

"Design is not an exact discipline that has to pretend to be scientific... Design is a tolerated indiscipline, made up of people's experience for the purposes of qualitative social change... Design is a syncretism between tradition and the illusion of techno-progressive proposals...
Design is media in the conquest of markets, where the quest for notoriety often takes precedence over competence. It is the worst and the best!
Design must not claim :

• to a dogmatic definition,
• for restrictive purposes,
• to corporatist attitudes,
• approaches that can be modelled.

Empiricism, intuition and common sense can sometimes prevail over certain methodological conditions... The ethics of design are built day by day, in the social avant-garde, in the interests of users, in ecological priorities. The appeal and richness of design lie in its diversity".
Rchr June 1990

Christian Ragot: Born in Bordeaux in 1933. Lives and works in Ozoir-la-Ferrière.

Technical training in Bordeaux, followed by three years' practical work in companies on projects for the architects who initiated the "Bordeaux School". Artistic training in Paris: Ecole Boulle (fittings) and ENSAD (interior design). Higher education: Institut de l'Environnement, CNAM Paris (ergonomics and work physiology), Université Paris VIII (town planning and design). From 1958 to 1960, worked in Parisian architecture and interior design agencies. Since 1970, personal studio for critical research and social practice through design. Work in France, Italy, Brazil and Colombia; teaching in France and abroad.
Invited competitions: Permanente Cantù (Italy, 1971), Objets et handicaps (with UTC, 1981), Panzani (1981), Vittel (1986), La Gloriette (Tours, 1990). His inflatable structures (1966-67), architectural components, individual dwellings, office ornaments, tableware, garden items, various pieces of furniture, etc., reflect an auteur design. Work at the Fonds National d'Art Contemporain - Centre George Pompidou, Paris. Formes Utiles prize. Exhibitions, publications and conferences in France and abroad (cover of Domus n°490 and n° 515; article on Latin America in Le dictionnaire des Arts Appliqués et du Design); films, radio and TV programmes, photography exhibitions...