The Brazilian designers, Fernando and Humberto Campana, who have created the renowned studio Campana Brothers have an impressive body of work which speaks volumes as they often incorporate the notion of transformation and reinvention into every single creation. Over the years, they have given a whole new meaning to design and craftsmanship by perhaps giving value to more mundane or common materials and transforming them into complete furniture designs or even installations. Today, CovetED will explore some of the most iconic as well as latest designs created by this dynamic duo, whose fierceness has broken many boundaries of creativity in the design industry.

Image Source: Woont

The brothers often express their South American roots in design through the use of colour, rich textures and creative chaos, resulting in a triumph of simple solutions. A perfect example of such is the Cangaço collection, a series that celebrates the vibrancy and diversity of the Brazilian culture and it was completed in collaboration with the most renowned leather craftsman in Brazil, Espedito Seleiro. This is only one of the many reasons why they have become one of the favoured references among collectors.

Cangaço collection

“Edward Scissorhands” Black Side Table (2014) by Fernando and Humberto Campana, made with burnished bronze and portoro. marble. ©David Gill

“The Armchair of Thousand Eyes” (2015) by Fernando and Humberto Campana made for Fendi. ©Pursuitist

The world started to notice their true talent in 1991 when they developed the “Favela Chair”, made from scraps found in a São Paulo shanty town. From there, they brought to life “Vermelha Chair”, “Cone Chair” and “Estrela Lamp”. The media started to cover them in 1998, when they became the first Brazilian artists to showcase their work at the renowned Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) in New York, along with the German lightning design Ingo Maurer, in an exhibition called “Project 66”, curated by Paola Antonelli.

“Favela Chair” (1991) by Fernando and Humberto Campana is a small armchair without any interior structure, it is made from many pieces of natural wood similar to those with which the shacks of the favelas or shantytowns are built in Brazil, glued and nailed together by hand one over the other. ©owo.

“Vermelha Chair” (1998) by Fernando and Humberto Campana and manufactured by Edra. ©Cooper Hewitt

“Cone Chair” by Fernando and Humberto Campana was probably inspired by the cone chair from George Nelson because the shape is quite similar, but they gave it a modern twist. Its made of a grey lacquered metal tubular frame, and it has a transparent plexiglass seat. ©Mass Modern Design

Lamp Estrela collection by Campana brothers

In 2002, the Estudio Campana started crafting its own line of limited editions and unique pieces handmade at the studio in Sao Paulo. These special editions have or are exhibited in prestigious international galleries such as Friedman Benda in New York, Galleria O in Rome, Carpenters Workshop Gallery in London, Firma Casa in Sao Paulo and Kreo in Paris. Some of their most iconic pieces can also be found in permanent collections of museums such as MoMA, Centre Georges Pompidou, MAD Paris, among others.

The Detonado Modular Bookshelf and Detonado Wall Piece create a dialogue between European and Brazilian modernist design, with Freijó wood framing intricate patchworks of reclaimed wicker from old Thonet chairs.

Fusion for Baccarat

Kaleidos mirror by Campana Brothers for Ghidini 1961

Every year, the Campana Brothers release a wide variety of authentic works of arts which are the result of fierce collaborations with some of the world’s most prestigious brands, including Alessi, Baccarat, Consentino, Fendi Casa, Ghidini 1961, Edra, Lasvit, among countless others.

The two-tone Bacteria carpets, created in collaboration with carpet brand Nodus, are hand-knotted from wool and banano silk. Their unusual swirling shapes recall microbial cultures under a microscope.

The Bacteria carpets and the Abbraccio armchair were some of the latest designs created by the dynamic duo for the specialised Italian design brand, Giustini/Stagetti. 

Abbraccio armchair for Giustini/Stagetti

See Also:

COVETED PRESENTS THE ULTIMATE GUIDE FOR MILAN DESIGN WEEK 2019

DESIGN GALLERIST: THE NEW REVIVAL OF THE ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT

♦ CovetED Magazine’s Complete Guide Of The Top Design Trends For 2019 ♦

Source: Covet Foundation