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| Le Lab is a contemporary and collectible design gallery founded by Egyptian Art and Design collector Rasheed Kamel. With his deep understanding of the past, and aspirations for the future of the Egyptian and regional art and design scene, Kamel’s vision for Le Lab is an ambitious one; to re-explore the way in which collectible design is interpreted in our region today. A movement questioning the boundaries created between art, design and architecture. At Le Lab contemporary and collectible design is a language; it tells a story of our historic past, tales of major societal events and the way in which they were perceived. It is a means to understanding our common humanity, allowing us to ask questions of our present and plan for our future. It is also a place to experiment, discover and explore the grey areas found today in our quest to identify and differentiate between the three fields of art, design and architecture. Le Lab’s multi-disciplinary approach, collaborating with some of the region’s greatest and brightest artists, designers, craftsmen and architects promises to challenge our understanding of the contemporary design scene both locally and regionally, promoting an enriching exchange of ideas and influences. Serving as a petri dish of creativity and discovery, Le Lab hopes to crystallize pre-conceived notions and standards, shedding a fresh and courageous light on contemporary and collective design, its meaning and possibilities. Allowing us to reformulate our personal understanding of art in a more inclusive and liberating way. |
| “My mission for Le Lab is to encourage the development of the Egyptian design scene and transform Cairo into a hub for art and design, regionally and internationally. We will promote Middle Eastern designers through our gallery in Cairo through a year-round exhibitions program of solo and group shows, workshops, talks, educational initiatives as well as through our participation in special initiatives, exhibitions, and art fairs both regionally and internationally.” Rasheed Kamel, Founder of LeLAB |
| THE EXHIBITION TITLED ‘INTERMISSION’ highlights various aspects of Mohasseb’s creative process with a particular focus on the diversity of natural materials that he incorporates into his designs. The show looks specifically at how each of Mohasseb’s pieces are unique creations that offer a united diversity of materials as well as a multifaceted expression through their form and function. |
| The presence of wood has long been a prominent feature in many of Mohasseb’s designs due to its dynamic qualities, diversity, and texture. His main concern is to create timeless design pieces that maintain the highest level of craftsmanship through a complex expression of materials interpreted through their diverse colors, shapes, texture, and even smells. What also distinguishes Mohasseb’s approach is his constant search for immateriality in the pieces he creates, whereby the complexity of materials used with their different characteristics comes together to endow each design object, whether it is architectural, custom-made, furniture or lighting design, with a unique identity.The design objects in Intermission include Mohasseb’s popular ‘Marguerite Coffee Table,’ a riveting sculptural object made of 950 long stemmed meticulously carved flowers in solid brass that have been brought together to create a table in the form of a bouquet. While the table is a static object, the movement from its curvaceous lines and dozens of flowers endows it with a dynamic energy. Other pieces shown include the ‘Galet Bench’, which was made from the contrasting materials of solid laminated American walnut and hand-carved solid marble; works from the ‘I-beam’ collection, an experimental group of objects inspired by a building’s metal structure. Made of cast colored resin, each piece basks in its transparent glow from light that filters through the material. Also displayed will be Mohasseb’s ‘Baleine Lounge Chair‘. Inspired by the retro design of the 1960s, the chair revisits the style of the era by instead laminating multiple layers of wood. Also included is the ‘Pebble’, ‘Marshall Coffee Table’ and his iconic‘Bee Collection’. In each piece displayed, every material used plays a major role in the creation of a united expression that defines each object. |
ABOUT THE ARTISTGeorges Mohasseb was born in 1973 in Beirut, Lebanon. A trained architect and designer, he graduated with a bachelor’s in architecture from Catholic University of Washington D.C before obtaining a degree from Ecole Boulle in Paris in carpentry in 2006 followed Domus Academy in Milan. In 2007 he founded his first design studio, Wood&, in Paris that worked on projects using wood as the predominant base, his favorite material. In 2020 he renamed it Studio Manda, based out Beirut. Through his professional experience and intensive workshops, he mastered wood furniture making techniques that continue to be prominent in each of his designs. His passion for design has led him to teach at many renowned academic institutions in Europe and in the US, including a course on furniture design at the architecture school of Catholic University in Washington DC. He’s also been a guest juror at the École’s des Beaux Arts. In 2013, he participated in PAD London along with Smo Gallery, which represented his work. In 2014, he participated in PAD Paris. Mohasseb Is currently collaborating with several collectible design galleries, including Carwan Gallery in Athens, Galerie Gosserez in Paris, SVDA Design Studio in NYC, GabrieletGuillaume in San Fransisco, Style Design and Le Lab in Cairo.Mohasseb continues to work and living in Beirut, Lebanon. He lived through the August 4, 2020, explosion at the Beirut Port and continues to help local NGOs to rebuild his beloved city. |