Brazilian design: from Joaquim Tenreiro to the Campana brothers (part 2)

In this second part on Brazilian design, we look at the more recent period in its history (if you missed part 1, you can find the beginning of our article on Brazilian design here ) If Brazilian design is now internationally recognised, it owes this largely to its striking duo: Fernando (1961) and Humberto Campana (1953). Brothers and designers, the younger studied architecture at the Beaux-Arts while the latter is a lawyer by training. In 1983, Fernando joined forces with his elder brother, who had given up law and asked him to create Brazilian design furniture. Eight years after their debut, they achieved almost worldwide recognition with their Favela Chair Favela Chair (Fauteuil Favela), a seat made from pieces of recycled wood. They were labelled designers of the "favellas". Fernando and Humberto Campana, Favela Chair, 1991. An incredible assembly of recycled wood. The piece has been manufactured by Italian publisher Edra since 2003. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Favela Chair, 1991. An incredible assemblage of recycled pieces of wood. This piece has been produced by Italian publisher Edra since 2003. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Favela Chair, 1991. An incredible assemblage of recycled pieces of wood. This piece has been manufactured by Italian publisher Edra since 2003. This emblematic piece launched an ongoing success story. In 1998, they were the first Brazilian artists to exhibit at MoMA in New York, and since then they have been exhibiting in the most prestigious galleries and museums. At the Musée d'Orsay, the temple of European artistic culture, they completely redesigned the décor of the Café de l'Horloge (the museum café), renamed the Café Campana. On site, they created a colourful and abundant atmosphere. This emblematic piece launched a success story that is still ongoing. In 1998, they were the first Brazilian artists to exhibit at New York's MoMA, and since then they have been exhibiting in the most prestigious galleries and museums. At the Musée d'Orsay, the temple of European artistic culture, they completely redesigned the décor of the Café de l'Horloge (the museum café), renamed the Café Campana. On site, they created a colourful and abundant atmosphere. View of the Musée d'Orsay's Café de l'Horloge, renamed Café Campana. The Campana brothers have completely redecorated the premises with an abundance of colours in homage to art deco. View of the Musée d'Orsay's Café de l'Horloge, renamed Café Campana. The Campana brothers have completely redecorated the premises with an abundance of colours in homage to art deco. View of the Musée d'Orsay's Café de l'Horloge, renamed Café Campana. The Campana brothers have completely redecorated the premises with a profusion of colours in homage to art deco. General view of the Café Campana, Musée d'Orsay. Overall view of the Café Campana, Musée d'Orsay. General view of the Café Campana, Musée d'Orsay. Unlike their predecessors, the Campanas' bold designs are a far cry from the aseptic lines inherited from the Bauhaus. The duo draw their creative DNA from the megalopolis of São Paulo, where they were born. Their design reflects this anarchic, chaotic and inhospitable city, where luxurious neighbourhoods follow on from the poorest. In short, an art of mixing and contrasting, to which they have married a Brazilian way of life that recycles materials and objects, as poverty dictates. Their art of recycling and their taste for misappropriation are reflected in a number of emblematic pieces that have marked their careers. The Sushi Chair Sushi Chair (2003), for example, made from strips of plastic and carpet backing transformed into sushi rolls. Or their series of benches/seats that recycle cuddly toys. The Campanas touch on the baroque and verge on the kitsch, but with an economy of means and an art of improvisation that is uniquely theirs! For example, they use wicker from Thonet chairs and assemble them using tennis racket strings! Sushi Chair, 2003. Design Fernando and Humberto Campana Sushi Chair, 2003. Design Fernando and Humberto Campana . Fernando and Humberto Campana, Banquete Chair, 2002. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Banquete Chair, 2002. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Banquete Chair, 2002. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Panda Banquete Chair, 2005. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Panda Banquete Chair, 2005. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Panda Banquete Chair, 2005. Produced by L'Estudio Campana. The Detonado Buffet by the Campana brothers (2015) uses wicker pieces recovered from Thonet chairs The Detonado Buffet by the Campana brothers (2015) uses wicker pieces recovered from Thonet chairs The Detonado Buffet by the Campana brothers (2015) uses wicker pieces recovered from Thonet chairs Fernando and Humberto Campana, Detonado buffet, top view. Fernando and Humberto Campana, Detonado sideboard, top view. But it would be wrong to confine contemporary Brazilian design to the Campana duo alone. Other figures embody it with talent. Claudia Moreira Salles (1955), a native of Rio de Janeiro, founded her own studio in São Paulo in 1988. Claudia Moreira Salles designs furniture that is both simple and rational, in the tradition of Brazilian woodwork. Take, for example, her sofa São Coronado São Coronado (2003), a classic of Brazilian design that revives the geometric forms of modern design. Claudia Moreira Salles, São Conrado sofa, 2003. Typical of the warmth of Brazilian wood. Claudia Moreira Salles, Sofa São Conrado, 2003. A typical example of the warmth of Brazilian wood. Claudia Moreira Salles, Sofa São Conrado, 2003. A typical piece of warm Brazilian wood. Claudia Moreira Salles, Serena Armchair, 2012. Publisher: Espasso. Another beautiful piece by Salles, this seat is as comfortable as it is elegant. Claudia Moreira Salles, Serena Armchair, 2012. Publisher: Espasso. Another beautiful piece by Salles, this seat is as comfortable as it is elegant. Claudia Moreira Salles, Serena Armchair, 2012. Publisher: Espasso. Another beautiful piece by Salles, this seat is as comfortable as it is elegant. This piece, and others by the Brazilian designer, are published by Espasso, the first historical distributor of Brazilian furniture in the United States. If you want to stay true to Made In Brazil, one of the best-known Brazilian furniture manufacturers is Etel. This brand (re)publishes the very best in historic and contemporary Brazilian design. Launched and run by Etel Carmona, a leading figure in Brazilian design and female entrepreneurship, Espasso attaches particular importance to preserving Brazil's biodiversity. Another current figure in Brazilian design, but this time a true product of the post-Campana generation, is Brunno Jahara, a Carioca man trained in design in Italy and Holland. Brunno Jahara fuses tropical Brazilian culture with a more global conception of design. We love the Babilonia Babilonia credenza (2010), a piece of wooden furniture with a multicoloured look that reflects the mixed heritage of Brazilian culture. Further away from wood, Brunno Jahara's creativity is evident in his series of plastic and aluminium lamps (Collection Multiplastica Domestica Multiplastica Domestica , 2012), and his revisiting of the Portuguese tradition of porcelain for the Vista Alegre factory. Babilonia credenza, 2012. Brunno Jahara design for the Neorustica collection (Jahara studio). Babilonia credenza, 2012. Design Brunno Jahara for the Neorustica collection (Jahara studio). Babilonia credenza, 2012. Design Brunno Jahara for the Neorustica collection (Jahara studio). Brunno Jahara, Lamps from the Multiplastica Domestica collection. Jahara studio. Brunno Jahara, Lamps from the Multiplastica Domestica collection. Jahara studio. Brunno Jahara, Lamps from the Multiplastica Domestica collection. Jahara studio. Brunno Jahara, Transatlantica project (2012), porcelain pieces for vista Alegre. Brunno Jahara, Transatlantica project (2012), porcelain pieces for vista Alegre. Brunno Jahara, Transatlantica project (2012), porcelain pieces for vista Alegre. Many of the Brazilian designers featured above share a respect for Brazil's natural resources. This concern is at the heart of the work of architect-designer Carlos Motta (1952), who graduated from the São Paulo School of Architecture in 1976. This designer has an international reputation, has received numerous awards and exhibits all over the world. Carlos Motta began designing his first pieces in the early 1970s, using driftwood that he collected from the great beaches where he used to go surfing. His credo: to produce honest design by favouring the use of solid wood, such as basalt or peanut wood. His iconic pieces include the São Paulo São Paulo chair (1982), the Braz Braz armchair (2006) and the Guar Guar á á seat (2015). Carlos Motta, chairs Carlos Motta, São Paulo chairs, 1982. São Paulo, 1982. Braz armchair, designed by Carlos Motta, 2005. Braz armchair, design by Carlos Motta, 2005. Braz armchair, design by Carlos Motta, 2005. Guar armchair Guar armchair, design Carlos Motta, 2015. Published by Espasso. Beautiful work in pink peroba wood, with iron legs. á, designed by Carlos Motta, 2015. Published by Espasso. A beautiful piece of work in pink peroba wood, with iron legs. Finally, this overview of Brazilian design would be incomplete without mentioning the late Mauricio Klabin (1952-2000), who in 1982 designed the Eclipse lamp, a classic of Brazilian design that is now part of the MoMA museum collection. This lamp is published by Objekto, which produces a catalogue of around ten exclusive products, some of which are best-sellers in Brazilian design (Reno Bonzon, Michel Arnoult). The famous Eclipse lamp by Mauricio Klabin for Objekto, 1982. The structure (a strip of plastic) can be manipulated to change the shape and orientation of the light. The famous Eclipse lamp by Mauricio Klabin for Objekto, 1982. The structure (a strip of plastic) can be manipulated to change the shape and orientation of the light. The famous Eclipse lamp by Mauricio Klabin for Objekto, 1982. The structure (a strip of plastic) can be manipulated to change the shape and orientation of the light. written by François Boutard written by François Boutard

Brazilian design: from Joaquim Tenreiro to the Campana brothers (part 2)

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