Zanardo and Kulikyrda Mehinako talk about indigenous presence in architecture

“The place where we are what we are” : this is the meaning of “Tekohá” , a term from Guarani philosophy that gives its name to the project by landscaper Luciano Zanardo for CASACOR São Paulo 2024. But, in Tekohá Square , the Guarani people are not the only one to have its traditions honored in the environment proposed by Zanardo: the Mehinako people, located in the Xingu Indigenous Territory, in Mato Grosso, were represented by the zoomorphic benches produced by designer Kulikyrda Stive Mehinako . With shapes inspired by the fauna of the Xingu, the pieces designed by Kulikyrda were made based on the body graphics of the Mehinako people and highlight the richness and complexity of Brazilian indigenous art in the space designed by Zanardo. The duo intends to delve deeper into this debate in the talk that will take place this Friday (19/07), at 11 am, at the Praça Tekohá space at CASACOR São Paulo 2024 .

"The power of indigenous art" is the theme of the chat between Zanardo and Kulikyrda, who were interviewed by CASACOR 's editorial team to explain a little more about the subject. Check it out:

Zanardo, as a veteran of CASACOR São Paulo , you have always sought to raise the issue of environmental awareness in your projects. What did you try to bring that was different with Praça Tekohá?

Zanardo: For Praça Tekohá, what was different was the construction of the environment using a single material: wood . Wood is our main renewable natural resource. It is present in the certified cumaru wood deck , in the muxarabi, in the chandelier in the living room, which is a cumaru branch, and in all the furniture in the square, which was made from trees. fallen in the forest that have already fulfilled their role in nature. In addition to the works of art by the indigenous artist Kulikyrda Mehinako, which were also handcrafted in wood.

Kulikyrda, how is your first time exhibiting your work as a designer at CASACOR São Paulo?

Kulikyrda: Before I returned to Xingu, I met with Luciano, who explained to me what CASACOR was and what his project was. I volunteered to participate and exhibit my work at Praça Tekohá. I didn't know the environment. Luciano, now that I'm going to visit Praça Tekohá and see my pieces in his space. But I'm very happy to be part of this project at CASACOR, my pieces are there representing me and I think it's being very successful, together of other artists' works. And I'm hearing from Luciano that people are finding it very beautiful and different, which makes me very happy.

Zanardo, what inspired your project and how can it serve as inspiration for architecture and interior design?

Zanardo: The inspiration was to pay homage to the native peoples, starting with the name of the square. In Guarani, the word “Tekohá” means “the place where we are what we are”. Tekohá is the physical place, including land, forest, fields. , waterways, plants and medicines, where the indigenous peoples' way of life develops. The project is an example of biophilia for all professionals in architecture and interior design .

Kulikyrda, how were the pieces on display in your exhibitions made? And how do they convey your ancestry?

Kulikyrda: All my pieces were made here in the village. I left my village, went to the forest and chose a special wood to make the benches, which is the piranha wood, which is sucupira, a good, hard wood. I chose all of them. the animals of our region, here in Mato Grosso: the jaguar, the frog, the eagle, the monkey and the anteater. It is something that is part of our culture too. I started to sculpt there in the forest, until they were in the shape of animals . Then I carried it on my shoulder, took it to the road to transport it in the car to the village. In the village, I started to sand everything, applied gueva oil and the next day I started to paint it. The paint I used is the paint of the My Mehinako people, it's our graphic design. These graphics in my pieces carry our ancestry, representing the people of Xingu.

Zanardo, how does the partnership between you and Kulikyrda connect with the theme of your project for CASACOR São Paulo 2024?

Zanardo: My partnership with Kulikyrda was a wonderful meeting of fate. I already had the project ready and all the partnerships closed, but I was looking for something special. I went to visit SP–Arte 2024 on the penultimate day and there I met this admirable artist. Kulikyrda's works represent the ancestry of his people, and this connects closely with my CASACOR São Paulo project.

Kulikyrda, how would you describe the importance of the art of the Mehinako people for Brazilian design?

Kulikyrda: Mehinako art is an essence of Brazilian design, because we already did it. We learned it on our own. It shows us the strength of Brazilian design, creativity, sustainability , the richness of our nature, of our surroundings and shows what It is possible to do it responsibly. For us, the bench is a seat to sit on, but for non-indigenous society, it can be used as a table, as a form of decoration , depending on how the person wants to decorate the place. home with our arts. This is important to us. This is very important to the Mehinako people: to be part of the furniture decoration.

How can society open up more space for the production of indigenous artists and traditional communities?

Zanardo: In my opinion, there is a lack of recognition for indigenous artists. Professionals need to know more about these artists and value their work in their projects. Kulikyrda: Indigenous people have the right to have spaces in exhibitions, events, and fairs, so that they can bring their culture to these spaces. There are many people who work making their works of art and there are many great artists here in Brazil: why? People don't reach that level? We also have the right to reach that level, we are great artists too. We have to receive the same amount that great artists earn too.

The theme of the talk will be “The strength of indigenous art”. Kulikyrda, what do you intend to bring to this chat?

Kulikyrda: Indigenous art comes from a long time ago, from the time of my grandfather and father. It has been passed down from generation to generation. In my parents' time, they said that it had no value or visibility. Non-indigenous society did not know what it was. that was indigenous art, they thought it was anything. Since at the time, my parents and grandparents did not speak Portuguese, it was difficult to explain our culture and the history of the objects that are kept within the community. So, it is a time to tell the stories of our arts and each meaning from there.