Brazilian designers showcase creations with local artisans at DW Mexico

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Brazil and Mexico are countries with cultures of their own characteristics, specificities and formed by many identities, cultures and peoples. Despite striking differences between them, they are also similar in many aspects , whether in the history of struggle and resistance, in the resilience and creativity of the population or in the extraordinary capacity for storytelling and access to the power of the new, without losing the foundation of its ancestry.

(Root Films/CASACOR)

These similarities and separations were experienced in situ by designers Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros, Nina Coimbra, Rodrigo Ambrosio and Sergio J. Matos , Brazilians invited to join the “Visión y Tradición” project at Design Week México. Through immersion with Mexican artisans , the quartet created original works that capture the encounter of these two cultural universes and can be seen until November 5 at the National Museum of Anthropology in Mexico City. Created to promote artistic and sensitive exchange between designers from various parts of the world and Mexican artisans, Visión y Tradición invites a country to participate in the immersion every year. Cuba, Russia, the United States, Germany, among others, have already cooperated, and for the first time , Brazil is part of the initiative.

(Root Films/CASACOR)

With support from the Brazil-Mexico Cultural Center , designers Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros, Rodrigo Ambrosio, Sérgio J. Matos and Nina Coimbra (who also co-curated the project with Natasha Scholbach, Victor Leite and Dimitri Lociks) went to cities in the state of Mexico.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

During the period of exchanging experiences and work, the quartet developed original works together with local artisans. Each was assigned to a local master - and none of them chose their companions. The results of these meetings, however, could not have been more fruitful. Nina Coimbra worked in Metepec with the artisan Cecílio Sánchez Fierro to create “Corpo Suspenso/Cuerpo Suspenso”. Both developed research using clay as a raw material and were able to find a symbiosis that respected its particularities , while at the same time enabling the birth of an original work, with vases that have a kind of membrane, with miniature skulls suspended on wire, inspired by the Tree of Life.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Rodrigo Ambrosio , in the city of San Antonio la Isla, joined forces with master craftsman Víctor López and his large family who, for generations, have dedicated themselves daily to making toys in turned pine wood, providing a playful and imaginary material so that, together , could develop original pieces that were representative of their poetics.

Based on their mutual interest in playfulness, they developed “La Pirinola” , a line of snack tables that play with the shapes, movements and balance of spinning tops.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Maria Fernanda Paes de Barros , like Nina Coimbra, immersed herself in Metepec and worked with artisan Sergio Hernandéz . The duo developed “Caminho da Alma/Camino Del Alma”, a pendant lamp made of shredded tissue paper , a technique they use Hernandéz has been dedicated to this since he was young, maintaining the traditional technique, without replacing the material, birch plywood veneered in cedar with an open edge and LED strip. The piece was inspired by Quetzalcoatl, the Feathered Serpent , with the silver tone of the paper referencing the true wealth of the Mexican people and the sinuous movement of the piece, which refers to the serpent.

(Divulgação/CASACOR)

Embracing the concept of ancestry and tradition passed down through generations, Sergio J. Matos experienced a workshop at María Molina, in San Cristóbal Huichochitlán, with the matriarch and her daughters. The family works with vegetal palm tissue and the pieces designed with the Brazilian designers embody this tradition. In addition to the works present at Visión y Tradición, Brazilian designers also present pieces in another exhibition: the Inédito show. In the cases of Nina Coimbra and Rodrigo Ambrosio, the works on display are also the result of immersion with Mexican artisans , while Maria Fernanda and Sérgio exhibit creations produced and already launched in Brazil. SERVICE “ Vision and Tradición”, at Design Week México When: October 12th to November 5th Where: National Museum of Anthropology (Mexico City) Information: www.designweekmexico.com

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