Background
Fernando Campana (b. Brazil, 1961-2022) and Humberto Campana (b. Brazil, 1953), respectively architect and lawyer, joined forces in 1983 to create a singular body of work using materials and techniques unusual in the world of design. From their Sao Paulo studio, a veritable artisanal laboratory, the brothers have created a design “drawn from the street”, halfway between Arte Povera and the industrial production of design objects, using recycled objects as their preferred materials. Their main source of inspiration has been Brazilian culture, with its diversity of influences, social mix, economy of means, and craftsmanship. Famous for their unusual creations, the Campana Brothers have become internationally renowned as pioneers. They have exhibited at MoMA – Museum of Modern Art in New York, the Centre Pompidou in Paris, and the Museum of Modern Art in Sao Paulo.
Signature Style
In 2009, the two brothers created the Instituto Campana. The institute has three main areas of work: the rescue of artisan techniques, the development of social inclusion, and the preservation of the Campana Brothers’ legacy for future generations. Its latest and largest project is the creation of a park in the brothers’ hometown of Brotas, in the countryside of São Paulo state, which will merge design, art, science, and education. Parque Campana is scheduled to open in June 2024.
Showstoppers
Working with the studio, MetamorFoses has issued a collection of objects that tap into the brother’s poetic yet socially engaged approach. Highlights from the offering includeThe Garrafon Verde by Studio Campana x MetamorFoses, a unique vase symbolising the creative transformation of damaged materials into artwork, with a militant twist represented by the use of plastic jerricans.
