workshops at ibirapuera park by hugo franca

são paulo-based sculptor hugo franca has developed ‘workshops’ for design weekend, brazil’s first festival to promote design and its connections with art, architecture, urbanism, decoration, social inclusion, business and technology. located in the ibirapuera park, in são paulo city, franca showcases his process of transforming two dead, fallen trees into urban furniture items for the public space. these pieces will add to his already established 13 installations already positioned in the gardens.

‘workshops’ at ibirapuera park by hugo franca, são paulo, brazil image © designboom

the first piece is carved out of a 20 meter eucalyptus tree which took franca and his workers eight hours to produce. because of its long, rectilinear dimension it has taken the form of seating beside the park walkway. it will undergo further detailing and curing similar to the finishing process of wood furniture. the second item, exhibits the organic actions of franca’s technique to create these massive expressions. he draws on the trunk with a piece of chalk which outlines the cut mark for his team. the sculptor then uses a chain saw to carve the wood to the desired shape. his approach maintains a sustainable relationship between nature and the community.

rectilinear form image © designboom

image © designboom

pieces cut from the tree trunk image © designboom

process of second piece being sculpted image © designboom

excess pieces image © designboom

designer hugo franca outlining in chalk the next layer to be cut image © designboom

chalk outline image © designboom

organic body image © designboom

image © designboom

image © designboom

franca supervises the process image © designboom

electric chain saw is used to penetrate the trunk image © designboom

hugo franca portrait © designboom

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