A Collector's Gaze: Simon Chong's Parisian Encounter with Bernard Buffet

As a designer and collector, Simon Chong continuously explores art during his travels, drawing inspiration for both his personal aesthetic and his clients’ spaces. His experience at the Parisian gallery Galerie Maurice Garnier remains a profound influence on his work

𝙏𝙝𝙚 𝘿𝙞𝙨𝙘𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙢𝙚𝙣𝙩 𝙤𝙛 𝙖 𝘾𝙤𝙡𝙡𝙚𝙘𝙩𝙤𝙧

Simon’s discerning eye for art stems from his long-term immersion and observations during his travels. He not only seeks out works that resonate with him personally but also strategically considers how to integrate art into his clients' spatial designs. He believes, "Good works can extend their influence across different spaces; they are both a personal enjoyment and the soul of the space."

𝙀𝙣𝙘𝙤𝙪𝙣𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘽𝙚𝙧𝙣𝙖𝙧𝙙 𝘽𝙪𝙛𝙛𝙚𝙩

Simon once encountered Bernard Buffet’s work at Galerie Maurice Garnier in Paris, experiencing its unique lines and atmosphere. This gallery has been closely associated with Buffet since 1948 and has focused on exhibiting and promoting his work since 1977. Buffet’s austere lines and intense tension left a unique mark on postwar French art. Simon resonated with this aesthetic, believing that Buffet’s brushstrokes possess a structural power - calm yet full of emotion - perfectly mirroring the essential balance between rationality and sensibility in design.

𝙏𝙧𝙖𝙣𝙨𝙡𝙖𝙩𝙞𝙣𝙜 𝘼𝙧𝙩 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙤 𝘿𝙚𝙨𝙞𝙜𝙣

Buffet’s works often depict figures or scenes with meticulous lines, conveying an atmosphere of solitude yet unwavering resolve. Simon translates this aesthetic into a design language that imbues spaces with both function and narrative. He states, "Design is not merely the arrangement of forms, but an extension of emotion. Buffet 's work reminds me that austerity and poetry can coexist."

𝘽𝙚𝙮𝙤𝙣𝙙 𝙋𝙤𝙨𝙨𝙚𝙨𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣: 𝘼 𝙅𝙤𝙪𝙧𝙣𝙚𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙎𝙝𝙖𝙧𝙞𝙣𝙜

As a collector, Simon’s focus extends beyond market value. He prioritizes whether a piece resonates with life and inspires new design ideas. Simon’s collecting journey is not simply about possession, but about sharing. He integrates the austere aesthetics of Buffet into his own life and shares this feeling with his clients, making art not just a work on the wall, but a part of space and daily life. His experiences traveling and appreciating art in various countries continue to illuminate his designs and collections.