Gaston Suisse creates a monumental lacquer decoration with over 120 panels, commissioned by the State,
to decorate the reception hall of the City Council in the Palais de Tokyo, for the International Exposition of 1937.
This set presented "art and technology" in France in 1937.
For this work he created 9 sets, each symbolising one of the themes covered :
Land transportation, intercontinental, metallurgy, electricity, modern technology, agriculture, woodworking, stone-working, and arts and crafts.
In this set, Gaston Suisse pays homage to the artisans and artists who, through the quality of their work, assure France an international influence.
This set of twenty-two lacquer panels covered the pediment of the main staircase of the Art Commissioner's office at the Exposition', and measured 15 meters wide, and over 2,5 meters in the central part.
In this set, Gaston Suisse shows us stone extracted from a quarry, its transformation into cut stone in the hands of craftsmen, and artists creating monumental sculptures.
A set of nine lacquer panels.
Total height. 520 cm.
Total width. 320 cm
In this set, Gaston Suisse pays homage to the working of and use of wood, to the hard labour of the woodcutter, carpenters.
He also highlights the work of cabinetmakers who, through the quality of their creations contributed to the reputation of French furniture in this Art Deco period that was coming to a close.
The set of nine lacquer panels.
Total height. 520 cm
Total Width. 320 cm.
In this set, Gaston Suisse pays tribute to the farmer's hard labour as they work in the vineyards, till the land, harvest with scythes, but also shows us the arrival of modern machines: tractors, combine harvesters that will offer relieve from their tasks.
He underlines the agricultural production in France, and one of its flagships, its vineyards.
Set of nine lacquer panels
Total height. 520 cm
Total width. 320 cm
Under a starry sky, Gaston Suisse resumes the theme of the Universal, "Arts and Techniques in modern life" Exposition, highlighting the progress and technological advances of the period.
Set of five lacquer panels.
Total length. 450 cm
Total height.190 cm
In this set Gaston Suisse presented, under a sky streaked with lightening, the domestication of electricity by man.
Its production, its storage and its transportation, as well as its applications in modern life : lighting, telegraphy, wireless radio, and the telephone.
Set of twelve lacquer panels
Total height : 560 cm
Total Width : 410 cm
In this set, Gaston Suisse presents the manufacturing and the use of metals, highlighting the traditional forging work as well as the industrialisation that enables the realisation of the great modern achievements
Set of nine lacquer panels
Total Height. 520 cm
Total Width. 320cm
In the set, Gaston Suisse highlights the progress in transportation, connecting continents, bringing men together. The transatlantic ocean liners among which the SS Normandy will be one of the flagships, aviation with the airmail pioneers who will write its history.
This set of twenty-five lacquered panels covered the whole left hand side of the main staircase of the Art Commissioner's office at the Exposition, covering a width of more than 12 m and going as high as 5 m 60.
In this set, Gaston Suisse presented the automobile, the French road network, that made it possible to shorten distances, connect the countryside to cities, the train and railroads, that brought European cities closer.
This set of twenty-three lacquer panels covered the whole right-hand side of the main staircase of the Art Commissioner's Office at the Exposition, covering a width of more than 11 m, and going as high as 5 m 60.