NYCXDesign: Fernando Mendes exhibition celebrates 20 years of career

Fernando Mendes is one of the exhibitors at NYCXDesign 2024 , a leading international design festival. The exhibition Fernando Mendes: from sketch to varnish is on display until July 27 at Galeria Espasso, celebrating the architect, designer and carpenter’s 20-year career. The exhibition showcases Mendes’ journey and meticulous creative processes — from the first lines of a sketch to the final coats of varnish. Fernando Mendes uses wood as his main medium of creation. In his work, the material is presented as a noble and traditional element of Brazilian furniture. "The choice of material leads him to ingenious solutions for cutting, fitting, surface and grain treatment, machining and artisanal finishing", says Afonso Luz, art critic and member of the board of trustees of the Sergio Rodrigues Institute. The designer has prepared a new collection for NYCXDesign. One of his new products is the Luiza Lounge Chair , made of freijo wood and handmade canvas. The furniture imitates airplanes from the 1940s, with the aim of allowing users to travel without having to leave their seats. Another creation by the designer is the Duda Armchair — one of Mendes' favorites. Inspired by the cockpits of old cars, the furniture is recognized as a symbol of his passion for car racing.

The exhibition also includes a mini documentary filmed in Fernando Mendes' workshop in Vale das Videiras. The short film reveals images of the various stages of the designer's creative process, such as the use of hand tools and sophisticated joints of traditional carpentry. Check it out below: https://youtu.be/r_hoqJiQTqs?feature=shared