brazil influence meets brazil style part 1

‘brazil influence meets brazil style’ (photo by brice vandermeeren for pierre bergé et associés)

brazil influence meets brazil style gallery pierre bergé et associés, brussels, belgium march 5 – april 20, 2009

brazillian design has had a long history that continues today. the country’s furniture combines european and native influences to create a unique style that represents its unique locality. this exhibition at pierre bergé et associés in brussels presents work by some of the modern masters of brazilian design such as sergio rogriguez, jorge zalszupin and carlo hauner. these designers combined indigenous materials such as wood, leather and cane together with a respect for the environment to create an expression of the country’s national identity.

however more than just a retrospective, pierre bergé et associés attempt to link vintage brazil design with the work of the dutch studio makkink & bey. stylistically the work of the studio is very different from that of the brazilians, however the two do share a similar spirit in design. for the exhibit, the gallery asked the studio to interpret five pieces of classic brazilian design of their choosing. the designers began with a desire to confront the contemporary reality of the tropical forest that inspired their predecessors. their interpretations combine the signature materials, mainly wood, into a new language that ironically uses american wood to represent conservation efforts in brazil. furthermore, the pieces also juxtapose formal references to the favelas of brazil with more polished materials such as leather.

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‘brazil influence meets brazil style’ (photo by brice vandermeeren for pierre bergé et associés)

l: ‘kilin’ chair by sergio rodriguez (rosewood and leather) r: ‘ballerina’ by studio makkink & bey, 2008 (american walnut, calf skin and leather)

l: ‘movels’ rocking chair, 1942 (imbuia wood) r: ‘rocking favela’ by studio makkink & bey, 2008 (american walnut, calf skin and leather)

‘brazil influence meets brazil style’ (photo by brice vandermeeren for pierre bergé et associés)

l: ‘movels’ chair, 1942 (imbuia wood) r: ‘fan’ by studio makkink & bey, 2008 (ash, calf skin and leather)

l: rosewood and leather chair 1962 r: ‘king’ by studio makkink & bey, 2008 (american walnut, calf skin and leather)

‘brazil influence meets brazil style’ (photo by brice vandermeeren for pierre bergé et associés)

couch by munis & alexandre zilberberg, 1970 (rosewood, marble and leather)

‘fence’ by studio makkink & bey, 2008 (ash, calf skin and leather)