Fernando and Humberto Campana: Cine São José

Friedman Benda honors the late Brazilian designer Fernando Campana and 35 years of his work alongside his brother Humberto Campana at Estúdio Campana in a comprehensive exhibition titled “Cine São José,” opening February 15. The show presents the momentous influence of the innovative studio by spotlighting incredible design pieces such as: the Yanomani Chair (1989), in which iron cutouts were creatively formed with a blow torch; the Plástico Bolha Chair (1995) of airy bubble wrap against a steel frame, the surrealist Cartoon Chair (2009); and the layers of textiles in the Sushi Series. The survey’s title is derived from the theater in the Campana brothers’ hometown of Brotas, which served as an ongoing inspiration for their studio’s legendary creations. The exhibition also highlights the artists’ respect and adoration for the natural world, especially present in the “Noah” series of the late 2010s as a response to the threat of climate change.