estúdio campana’s first major show in asia presents 40 years of works inside an artificial cave

Estúdio Campana presents first major exhibition in asia

For their first major exhibition in Asia, Estúdio Campana presents Impermanence, a showcase of 40 years of work at the Power Station of Art (PSA) in Shanghai. Running until September 8th, 2024, the exhibition is set inside an artificial cave designed by studio co-founder Humberto Campana. This unique setting, inspired by Plato’s Allegory of the Cave, features over 50 innovative pieces among artificial stalactites and stalagmites. Visitors can freely explore and discover the artworks as they emerge from behind the organic-shaped columns, creating a dynamic hide-and-seek experience.

Impermanence: 40 Years of works at the Power Station of Art

Impermanence – 40 Years of Estúdio Campana at the Power Station of Art showcases the Brazilian design studio’s cultural contributions through objects, projects, drawings, and works. Featuring over 50 pioneering pieces, the Shanghai exhibition traces the studio’s history and insights into artistic events, design solutions, and reflections on human coexistence with nature. To introduce four decades of work to the Chinese audience, a Cabinet of Curiosities welcomes visitors into the Campana universe of references from childhood to the beginning of the brothers’ careers, including never-before displayed personal objects, original drawings, and prototypes.

For the main exhibition hall, co-curators Marco Sammicheli and Gong Yan have created three thematic areas: a manual act focusing on artisanal knowledge and material exploration, an expressive act that transforms and shares intimate thoughts through various techniques, and a political act that builds communities and regenerates territories.

Humberto Campana has designed an enchanting structure of artificial stalactites and stalagmites to house the curators’ vision. The cave-like setting is composed of all-white textured forms, that alternately conceal and reveal the exhibits, inviting visitors to uncover them.

Embracing Curiosity: Humberto Campana on Design and Discovery

‘I wanted to combine the curators’ work with a child-like experience, which for me is the most accurate way of explaining how my brother and I trailblazed through life: by taking steps into dark, unknown territories, and shedding light into our explorations and findings. Plato’s classic allegory is something we can all relate to, at any age or background. I like to think we are all born curious, and this scenography is an invitation to embrace estrangement, step away from your comfort zone, and be rewarded by the courage to let imagination run free in an adventurous search for joy,’  says Humberto Campana.

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project info: 

name: Impermanence – 40 Years of Estúdio Campana | @estudiocampana
location: Power Station of Art | @powerstationofart in Shanghai, China
dates: June 8th – September 8th, 2024