Mumbai’s design gallery æquō will debut a new piece by Brazil-based Estúdio Campana, “Atuxuá,” at PAD Paris 2024, taking place April 3—7.
The centerpiece of “Atuxuá” is a Sabai grass cabinet, centered around the plant native to India and the nation’s rich artisanal history, Sabai grass is a raw fiber native to India, found primarily in India’s eastern and northeastern regions where the material has become an important source of income for the local people. Humberto Campana’s design for “Atuxuá” seamlessly blends native raw materials from traditional Indian craft with a contemporary design in a token of appreciation and reflection to the nation.
Courtesy of æquō
Mumbai-Based Design Gallery æquō Pays Homage to India’s Natural Landscape
Founder Tarini Jindal Handa and creative director Florence Louisy created æquō with a vision and commitment to celebrate India’s rich craft heritage. æquō invited Estúdio Campana, the studio of brothers Humberto and Fernando Campana, who have garnered international recognition for their ability to transform everyday objects and materials into beautiful contemporary pieces that showcase narratives of Brazilian life and culture.
Courtesy of æquō
The cabinet was created in Jaipur with æquō’s partner workshop Frozen Music. Blades of Sabai grass are meticulously hand-sewn onto a bamboo lattice in a process that took several weeks to complete. The grass fibers are tied together with delicate brass wires around a solid brass structure. The design remains faithful to the grass bundling techniques used for trade and recreates the sense of astonishing mass that Sabai grass represents during its harvest. Opening the cabinet’s doors reveals flawless brass shelves that gleam in the darkness of the interior and reflect the grass fibers of its walls. Its name, “Atuxuá,” comes from the name of indigenous Brazilian masks known for their beautiful and intricate craftsmanship and symbolic significance in Brazilian culture. The resulting piece is a co-cultural Indo-Brazilian story told through fine Indian techniques and artisanal heritage.
Courtesy of æquō
