Galerie Philia and Fang Gallery stage The Temperature of Form in Shanghai

Galerie Philia, in collaboration with Fang Gallery in Shanghai, China, presents The Temperature of Form, a design exhibition curated by Ygaël Attali (French curator, writer and co-founder of Galerie Philia), on view from August 29, 2026. Also part of Shanghai Art Week this year, the showcase brings together contemporary designers and artists across diverse cultural backgrounds, exploring the emotional and sensory dimensions of material, examining how form, texture and craftsmanship shape our perception of objects. As Galerie Philia notes in an official release: “Every material possesses its own temperature”.

Moving beyond the conventional associations of warm and cool, The Temperature of Form considers these qualities as complementary sensibilities that give sculptural design its presence and distinct character. “The restrained geometries of Mario Tsai, the monumental austerity of Rick Owens, the polished steel compositions of Pietro Franceschini and Pol Quadens, the reflective brass forms of Tan Zhipeng, the translucent acrylic and resin works of Saerom Yoon, or the delicate balance between metal and stone explored by Lee Sisan, all evoke a quiet form of coolness—one rooted in precision, clarity and restraint rather than emotional distance,” the design gallery notes.

Extending this atmosphere beyond product design, the photographs of Thomas Devaux in the showcase appear to “dissolve matter into light, extending this sense of silence beyond the object itself”, as the contemporary design gallery states. In contrast, another group of works embraces the expressive qualities of natural materials. The black quarry stone sculptures of Andres Monnier, alongside works by Morghen, Pierre de Valck, Kar, Laura Pasquino and Jérôme Pereira, introduce tactility through patinated bronze, clay, stone, wood and handcrafted finishes.

The Temperature of Form is “not a confrontation between styles but a spectrum of emotions: from the quiet precision of minimal forms to the tactile richness of organic ones”, Galerie Philia shares.