Esprit Wabi

Eminent tastemaker Axel Vervoordt recounts the pivotal moments in his life that formed the foundation of his guiding philosophy and signature aesthetic. Axel Vervoordt is one of the world's foremost tastemakers. Revered for his discerning eye in art and interior design through a career that has spanned more than fifty years, he is renowned for his captivating minimalist interiors. An iconic figure at the most prominent international art fairs and exhibitions, he incarnates a singular philosophy for how to live with style. In Stories and Reflections, Vervoordt recounts stories about the people who have influenced him most throughout his life - his family, friends, artists, colleagues, clients, and unforgettable mentors - in this memoir that is personal, funny, insightful, and permeated with humility, wisdom, and lessons learned. He reflects on the key moments in his life from childhood to the present - Rudolf Nureyev's visit to the Vervoordt's new castle, his youthful acquisition of a Magritte, discovering Japanese Gutai art, his legendary Venice exhibitions, and insights gained from artists such as Cy Twombly, Anish Kapoor, and musician Mstislav Rostropovich. He details his greatest successes, as well as his personal regrets, while offering first-hand insight into the work that has forged his reputation. A larger-than-life and inspiring man, this book offers snapshots from his life, which paint an overall portrait of his guiding philosophy.

4e de couverture : The art of harmonious living is presented in this volume through fifteen bespoke interiors recently designed by the Axel Vervoordt Company. Each room incorporates natural light as an essential component of design, along with other elements from nature?water, metal, wood?blended with a modern aesthetic and punctuated with fine art and antiques. The range of featured properties includes homes by the sea, as well as in urban and rural locations?from New York to London and Munich, and from Italy through Provence to Portugal?demonstrating the breadth of styles possible within the essential Vervoordt design principles. Photography by Laziz Hamani brings into focus both the unique design details and the timeless interiors that together create each striking setting. These exceptional residences are rich with inspirational ideas for incorporating light into your own home in the singular Vervoordt style.Notes Biographiques : Grand collectionneur et marchand d'art de renommée internationale installé à Anvers (Belgique) ; propriétaire de nombreuses galeries, dont la dernière à Hong-Kong ; Axel Vervoordt met en scène depuis de nombreuses années des demeures dans le monde entier, véritables oasis de beauté en harmonie avec la nature ; dans lesquelles il fait dialoguer les époques et les objets. Depuis 2007 les Éditions Flammarion ont publié tous les livres d'Axel Vervoordt : Intérieurs Intemporels, Esprit Wabi, Maisons de Lumière ainsi qu'un livre en collaboration avec sa femme, May Vervoordt (À la table de May). Son dernier livre Souvenirs et Réflexions est paru en 2017.