On the highway, you spend every day in front of his works. Here is their story

Vulaines-sur-Seine can be proud to know among its citizens, Bernard was falling East One of the greatest French graphic designers. For example, Fifty years of creation, more than two hundred cultural posters and an intact passion for contemporary art.

An international history for a new vision of art

“I was born in Samoreau. Similarly, I lived in Vulaines and Héricy, but most of my professional life took place in Paris,” says the artist. Meanwhile, His journey began in the 1970s with Jean Widmer, A legendary figure in French graphics. Consequently, In the visual design agency, he participates in the creation of pictograms highway, you spend every day that still adorn today French motorways. Similarly, “At the start. In addition, when he had the budget, he hired me and then worked together on the shape of the panels, the number, the whole layout for 3 years. However, »»

This rigorous formation will deeply mark its aesthetic approach. Furthermore, After a remarkable passage in advertising From 1978 to 1985, he never stopped travel around the world. Meanwhile, With this experience, he chooses to turn to culture.

In 1990, he founded the Bernard company fell in Parisspecializing exclusively in cultural budgets. For example, This decision leads him to collaborate with the most prestigious French institutions such as the Center Pompidou. the Museum of Modern Art in Paris, the Picasso Museum, but also many museums in the provinces. “I love art, especially contemporary. I had the chance to meet in this work a lot of artists. »»

For highway, you spend every day the artist, a strange transition to modern times

His agency quickly becomes a reference in the Parisian cultural environment. Its aesthetics is characterized by a very typographical approach. inherited from its Swiss training, then sublimated by a Bold use of color. Its posters, often stripped of superfluous decorative elements, draw their strength from the dialogue between text and bright colors.

One of its most emblematic posters? His work for the exhibition on Bagatelle dwarfs In 2001. “It’s a poster that made me known and it’s funny, I was still told about it,” he laughs.

With an exceptional journey. he was able to cross all the changes in the profession of graphic designer, the times of layers and photocomposition in the digital age. His gaze on this evolution mixes nostalgia and lucidity. “At the beginning, we worked with a highway, you spend every day studio and layers, and after computer science arrived. I said goodbye to all the trades that surrounded me. He regrets the disappearance of handicrafts. “There was a quality especially in the photo. what I regret is photogravure, because now everyone tinks in their corner with Photoshop. »»

A book. an exhibition that trace his life

At 77, this former Paris decorative arts today presents the culmination of his work through the publication ofA retrospective book And a major exhibition scheduled for next September at the Mallesherbes printing museum. After eighteen years of intensive creation. Bernard dropped brings together most of his work in a work which presents 260 cultural posters. “I started to choose. and the next day, I changed my mind so I decided to almost put all my work in it. »» An exhibition at the Malesherbes printing museum will also be dedicated Next fall.

Today withdrawn from active practice, he continues to invest in projects filmed around art. His passion remains intact. “I had a great life, which unfortunately spent in two seconds. I found myself at 70 years old. I haven’t seen the time pass. The book can be found in bookstores around Héricy or order on the internet.

Posters, graphic designers, company Bernard was falling. Editions du Puits Fleuri, 288 pages, 39 euros.

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