Maison Brésilienne – Brazilian design from the 1950s until Today
EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 7th
Exhibition from March 13th until April 30th 2013 (Opening reception on March 12th at 6pm)
Open Monday through Friday, from 11a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
The film « Sobras em Obras », about Geraldo de Barros and directed by Michel Favre, will be exhibited on March 20th, at 6.30 p.m.
This new exhibition, held by espace_L in collaboration with 20th Century R New York, presents the work of the renowned Brazilian artists: Geraldo de Barros, Oscar Niemeyer and Sergio Rodrigues, and the Portuguese artist Joaquim Tenreiro.
In 1950s, some Brazilian artists shared the same principles of two European artistic movements. At first, the Bauhaus, which revolutionized the design of the 20th century, and secondly, the Concrete Art. Max Bill (1908-1994), a prominent representative of this movement, and previously a Bauhaus director, received the first prize in sculpture at the first São Paulo Biennial, in 1951.
Thus begins a tradition on Brazilian design. The furniture from the 1950s is popular nowadays and it is highly sought after by collectors, besides being copied and it is mainly characterized by the absence of decorative motives and it emphasizes volume, shape and function. Indeed, the design of such objects follows the leading that "less is more", an expression by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), another Bauhaus director, to characterize the minimalist design.
The Brazilian furniture of this period is emphasized by the beauty and rarity of the Brazilian hardwoods (jacaranda, peroba and frejo), and secondly by the design itself. The combined concepts of bare and sensual furniture gives these pieces a powerful elegance in perfect harmony with the Brazilian architecture, as mentioned by the Brazilian architect Jorge Hue:
“The concept of shelter has always been with us. It is lost in the night of the past, beyond the Neolithic period. Shelter, burrow, a safe place, individual or collective, temporary or permanent. Throughout this adventure, this idea has long changed, until we get home! It is within us, however, almost intact, the basic concept of home-burrow, a place of arrival. The joy of meeting our intimacy, our way of being. Living with charm: the practise of this freedom with creativity. The clear and neat function of each thing, almost with that sense of joy we experience during breakfast. Being at ease with comfort and the proper measure of our body, with the adequate choice of materials and the simplicity of a good living. Our space is always smaller, but it is up to ourselves to understand it better. We must absorb the most from its interior, and promote high flexibility, interchangeability and function." [1]
[1] Jorge Hue, in Jorge Hue - 2 vols, 1st edition, Editora Contracapa, 2010.
EXTENDED UNTIL MAY 7th
Exhibition from March 13th until April 30th 2013 (Opening reception on March 12th at 6pm)
Open Monday through Friday, from 11a.m. to 5 p.m., or by appointment.
The film « Sobras em Obras », about Geraldo de Barros and directed by Michel Favre, will be exhibited on March 20th, at 6.30 p.m.
This new exhibition, held by espace_L in collaboration with 20th Century R New York, presents the work of the renowned Brazilian artists: Geraldo de Barros, Oscar Niemeyer and Sergio Rodrigues, and the Portuguese artist Joaquim Tenreiro.
In 1950s, some Brazilian artists shared the same principles of two European artistic movements. At first, the Bauhaus, which revolutionized the design of the 20th century, and secondly, the Concrete Art. Max Bill (1908-1994), a prominent representative of this movement, and previously a Bauhaus director, received the first prize in sculpture at the first São Paulo Biennial, in 1951.
Thus begins a tradition on Brazilian design. The furniture from the 1950s is popular nowadays and it is highly sought after by collectors, besides being copied and it is mainly characterized by the absence of decorative motives and it emphasizes volume, shape and function. Indeed, the design of such objects follows the leading that "less is more", an expression by Ludwig Mies van der Rohe (1886-1969), another Bauhaus director, to characterize the minimalist design.
The Brazilian furniture of this period is emphasized by the beauty and rarity of the Brazilian hardwoods (jacaranda, peroba and frejo), and secondly by the design itself. The combined concepts of bare and sensual furniture gives these pieces a powerful elegance in perfect harmony with the Brazilian architecture, as mentioned by the Brazilian architect Jorge Hue:
“The concept of shelter has always been with us. It is lost in the night of the past, beyond the Neolithic period. Shelter, burrow, a safe place, individual or collective, temporary or permanent. Throughout this adventure, this idea has long changed, until we get home! It is within us, however, almost intact, the basic concept of home-burrow, a place of arrival. The joy of meeting our intimacy, our way of being. Living with charm: the practise of this freedom with creativity. The clear and neat function of each thing, almost with that sense of joy we experience during breakfast. Being at ease with comfort and the proper measure of our body, with the adequate choice of materials and the simplicity of a good living. Our space is always smaller, but it is up to ourselves to understand it better. We must absorb the most from its interior, and promote high flexibility, interchangeability and function." [1]
[1] Jorge Hue, in Jorge Hue - 2 vols, 1st edition, Editora Contracapa, 2010.
Geraldo de Barros
Chaises Unilabor
series Fotoformas
Original edition Sao Paulo, 1954.
Edition 7/15. 2004 Baryta Paper
30 x 40cm
Chaises Unilabor
series Fotoformas
Original edition Sao Paulo, 1954.
Edition 7/15. 2004 Baryta Paper
30 x 40cm
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Oscar Niemeyer
Rio
Chaise lounge in ebonized wood with woven cane seat and removable black leather headrest Designed in 1978, Brazil. Produced in 2007, Brazil.
07.2cm x 59.7cm x 86.4cm
Rio
Chaise lounge in ebonized wood with woven cane seat and removable black leather headrest Designed in 1978, Brazil. Produced in 2007, Brazil.
07.2cm x 59.7cm x 86.4cm
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Sérgio Rodrigues
Molé
Chair in jacaranda with leather seat.
1957, Brazil
82.55cm x 101.6cm x 73.66cm
Molé
Chair in jacaranda with leather seat.
1957, Brazil
82.55cm x 101.6cm x 73.66cm
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Joaquim Tenreiro
Sofa with jacaranda frame and upholstered seat and back. Private commission,1950s, Brazil.
165.1cm x 63.5cm x 81.3cm
Sofa with jacaranda frame and upholstered seat and back. Private commission,1950s, Brazil.
165.1cm x 63.5cm x 81.3cm