ESPASSO is pleased to announce the opening of the first major New York exhibition by noted furniture designer Zanini de Zanine. The show will also feature works by his late father José Zanini Caldas, a seminal name in Brazilian 20th Century design, marking the first time in the US or abroad, furniture by both designers will be exhibited together.
The exhibit will launch two new pieces designed by Zanine, the ESPASSO Armchair and Escoras candle holder, as the Anil and Tiss chairs will be shown for the first time outside of Brazil. The exhibit will also feature original works by his father Caldas – pieces sculpted out of solid woods – along with re-editions of his 1950’s iconic industrialized line.
Zanine grew up watching his father’s woodworks come to life and created his first piece while training with design master Sergio Rodrigues. Represented in the exhibit are two distinct veins of Zanine’s work that translate the mastery and tradition of Brazilian modern carpentry, and industrial design, into a definite contemporary and fresh context and approach. Hand-crafted pieces from solid reclaimed Brazilian woods make up his Carpintaria Contemporânea line (Contemporary Carpentry), as seen in the elegant angles of the Balanço chaise and in the minimal and robust design of the Especie armchair. The Studio Zanini line transforms industrial materials – sheet metal, plastics, methacrylate – into unique pieces, as in the eye-catching Moeda armchair (translating to ‘coin’) that reutilizes discarded sheet metal from Brazilian coin production to compose its airy design.
“Zanine De Zanini’s approach to design continues his father Jose Zanine Caldas’ legacy of creating masterfully designed pieces with ingenuity and originality, while also allowing him to become a recognized craftsman in his own right. We are thrilled to be launching Zanine De Zanini’s first major New York exhibit and being the premiere venue to exhibit their works together,” said ESPASSO’s owner and curator Carlos Junqueira.
Prior to the public opening, ESPASSO will host an opening reception featuring a panel discussion organized by the influential Brazilian magazine Trip, on behalf of its Trip Transformadores initiative. The program aims to highlight the various ways contemporary design and architecture can raise social and ecological awareness. One of the ways it does this is by issuing an annual award that recognizes individuals whose work aligns with the organization’s mission. The current award recipients Paula Dib and Edgard Gouveia Junior will be joining Zanine at ESPASSO for a talk moderated by Trip’s Paulo Lima.
