Vladimir Kagan Biography

Today we recalls an amazing designer, a whole era - Vladimir Kagan, whose earthly life ended on April 7. But he lived in his homeland for only ten years, at the beginning of the year the Kaganov family, fleeing the Nazi regime, moved to the United States. Despite the difficult time in the economy of all countries, including America, Vladimir’s father found the opportunity to continue his business: he opened a furniture studio and a store.

Here Vladimir Kagan received his first lessons as furniture skill. And immediately after graduation, the younger Kagan, already carried away by drawing and sculpture, entered the architectural department of the University of Colombian. However, there he was more fascinated by sculptural and drawing classes in human anatomy, and field classes. Having completely plunged into the study and development of the physiological foundations of sculpture and architecture, Vladimir thereby created for himself the base of ergonomics, which became the basis of his biomorphic style of furniture.

The interior of the living room of the New York Townhaus with the Serpentine sofa, indeed, the father in his own workshop entrusted the first furniture work while he was only fulfilling orders. Vladimir, or as his name in America, Vladi, was lucky than many of his young colleagues: every successful sketch, approved by his father, he could try to realize in the workshop creating a production prototype in this way.

The kagan began, as it should, the apprentices of design - with imitations of the general and fashionable course of constructivism, repeating geometric shapes and hard compositions. His own handwriting, for which today we value every object under the Kagan brand, will be formed a little later. But he will already open his own business at the age of 21-a store for the sale of furniture-after he receives an order for furniture for the first headquarters of the UN together with his father.

It was even for American history - the phenomenal start of the business, especially the design direction.

The result of the work was the software project for delegations at the UN headquarters. In the wake of such financial success, Vladimir Kagan will open the store almost to the Manhattan Center in two years. But he will not forget, what his father taught: individual handmade sketches and only to order. This credo not only attracted new customers to him, but also held those who had made an order in his store forever.

Glory went to him with seven -mini steps. Once, Merilin Monroe entered his store on Oy Street with her husband Arthur Miller and ordered a bedroom, which was done when the couple had already divorced. In a series of star customers, Harry Cooper also appeared, who became a sign figure in the career of Kagan. It was the beginning of the 10ths that became for Vladimir Kagan and the beginning of his corporate identity, which at that time was considered too avant -garde and revolutionary.

The chairs, the sofa from the kagan violated all the connections with the past, practically denied traditions - streamlined forms, smooth lines, a bright color palette, jumping joints and structures. The sculptural style of Kagan had nothing to do with the Victorian era, nor with Chesterfilian furniture, or with the legacy of Bauhaus. But they recognized him, followed him to the store to Vlad, they ordered him and admired him.

Floating Curved Sofa. Model SC. Photo from the site www. Sometimes, looking at his sofas, it was difficult to guess how they were made, how constructed - they resembled either fish or lizards from Galapagossikh Islands, then the islands, then mountains. He made a lot of noise, offering large, long sofas, occupying a large space of the room and forming its image. My sofa Serpentine holds eight.

” Biomorphic sofas, wriggling throughout the room became a truly unique symbol of American design, the first swallow of the American style. Nobody offered chairs, sofas, sofas, chairs, chairs of Yashchera: neither a laconic Scandinavian design, nor a pathos Italian style. The sofa, the Long Island Sofa model, the new decade has adjusted the emphasis of Vlad - dynamism, acuity, kinetics, futurism determine the forms of furniture x.

The legendary Unicorn collection with futuristic three -part legs made of cast aluminum is known to all design lovers, the famous sculptures of Konstantin Brankusi “Bird in Space” inspired the creation of this image of Kagan. Now he masters the skill of work not only with wood, but also with forged metal - a new time dictates his conditions. Vladimir Kagan, Three Piece Omnibus Sectional, USA, S in the year Vladimir Kagan releases the Omnibus modular sofa: using individual structural elements, it could be collected in different directions and at different levels above the floor.

So the famous and often used concept “sofa landscape” appeared. The famous Omnibus sofa system has created a corporate image for Gucci boutiques - the same Ford that will write a preface to Kagan's autobiography will be the initiator of such a furniture.The basis of his work and in X, as at the very beginning of his career - work to order on individual projects, he worked only for the elect and only at his own free will, only in his own style, not succumbing to any requirements of customers.

At the end of the X Vladimir Kagan began to teach a lot, write articles and books. His legendary works of the year in the years became more and more relevant and fashionable, which became vintage chairs and sofas of Vlad sold at auctions at unheard of prices. From the sketches, he chose the most interesting and in M ​​released the collection “Classic from the Kagan” under the name brand Vladimir Kagan.

Cresscent Console. At the same time, he perceived each object of his work and talked with him as a living creature and could not understand how to buy a beloved chair in an online store for himself. Vladimir Kagan actively worked as president of the American Association of interior designers A. D, taught the history of modern design at universities and design schools in the United States.

Until the last days, Kagan worked with modern design galleries: the London Carpenters Workshop and the American gallery Ralph Pucci, creating copyright collections produced by a limited edition.