INTERVIEW - Philippe Starck on humor
From fertile surprises and mental games to discreet aberrations : humor is an essential element of creativity for Philippe Starck and he reveals why...
What is humor for you?
Humor is the best daily example of relativity and one of the most beautiful symptoms of human intelligence. We are here for intelligence, by intelligence and humor is the cream of the crop of intelligence. It is above all something that makes it possible to put everything into relativity, almost an Einsteinian relativity. And because nothing exists, we can make fun of everything. That explains my position in life: an elegance that consists of treating light things with seriousness and serious things with lightness.
How important is humor in your work?
For me, a creation without humor is not human. The word "beautiful" means nothing. Only consistency counts. An object, for example, design or not, is above all an object which brings together all the parameters of human intelligence, reconciling opposites. A lack of humor is the definition of vulgarity. Taking things too seriously is the pinnacle of vulgarity. In the end, I’m just a dreamer kid, with all the light-heartedness and gravity of a child. I fully accept the rebellion, the subversion and the humor of such. In reality, there is no work in my life, there is only playing, curiosity, generosity and vision.
Where does this attachment to humor come from ?
It’s true that seeing someone fall flat on their face, without hurting themselves of course, a flower pot or anything falling on someone, anyone tripping up… makes me howl with laughter. I choke, I cry, I can't see a thing. I'm in a state of absolute distress thanks to a truly structural laugh. It's totally stupid, I'm ashamed, I can't explain it, since in general I really like people very much, I respect them passionately but maybe that's it, I just need to let go, relax, I can't help it, it's animal you might say.
What makes you laugh out loud?
It’s true that seeing someone fall flat on their face, without hurting themselves of course, a flower pot or anything falling on someone, anyone tripping up… makes me howl with laughter. I choke, I cry, I can't see a thing. I'm in a state of absolute distress thanks to a truly structural laugh. It's totally stupid, I'm ashamed, I can't explain it, since in general I really like people very much, I respect them passionately but maybe that's it, I just need to let go, relax, I can't help it, it's animal you might say.
