The power station of DESIGN (psD) at the Power Station of Art (PSA) and Estúdio Campana present “Impermanence – 40 Years of Estúdio Campana from June 8 to September 8, 2024, in Shanghai, China. Established in 1984 by Brazilian design duo Humberto Campana (b.1953) and Fernando Campana (1961-2022), “Impermanence” marks the São Paulo-based studio’s first major exhibition in Asia.
Co-curated by Marco Sammicheli, Curator for Design, Fashion, Crafts and Director Museo del Design Italiano at the Triennale Milano, and Gong Yan, Director of PSA; Scenography design by the studio co-founder Humberto Campana; Graphic design by Maru Widen, the exhibition will focus on the cultural production of the studio through the proposal of objects, projects, drawings, and works that best summarize the history, trajectories, and insights of the practice.
The exhibition will bring over fifty pioneering pieces that represent and trace the history of thoughts and actions that have prefigured well in advance artistic events, design solutions, and urgent reflections on the coexistence of human beings and nature. With the tall order of introducing four decades of studio production to the Chinese audience, a Cabinet of Curiosities will welcome visitors into the Campana universe of references from childhood to the beginning of the brothers’ careers, including never-before displayed personal objects, original drawings, and prototypes.
ABOUT ESTÚDIO CAMPANA
Co-founded in 1984 by brothers Fernando (1961-2022) and Humberto (b. 1953) Campana, the Campana studio has achieved international recognition for its ground-breaking design. The studio celebrated its 35th anniversary in 2019, followed by “Campana Brothers: 35 Revolutions”, a major retrospective exhibition at the Museu de Arte Moderna in Rio de Janeiro in 2020.
Deeply rooted in Brazilian culture and traditions but also carries universal values at its core, Campana studio creates their identity through life experiences. By incorporating the idea of transformation and reinvention, their creative process raises everyday materials to nobility.
Based in São Paulo, Campana is constantly investigating new possibilities within the design field: from furniture making to architecture, landscaping, fashion, scenography, and more. Bridging disciplines and encouraging the exchange of expertise among communities and artists are vital sources of inspiration, fresh repertoire, and free-thinking. Working with multiple brands and industries allows them to combine the best of craftsmanship, sustainable production practices and state-of-the-art technologies.
Campana pieces are part of permanent collections of renowned cultural institutions such as Centre Pompidou, Paris; Musée Des Arts Décoratifs, Paris; the Metropolitan Museum of Art, New York; Museum of Modern Art, New York; San Francisco Museum of Modern Art; Museum of Modern Art of Sao Paulo; and Vitra Design Museum, Weil am Rhein.
As one of the world’s most influential and iconic designers, the Campana Brothers founded Instituto Campana in 2009 to preserve their ever-growing collection for future generations and to promote design as a tool for social transformation through cultural and educational programs.
