Turning Tides: Designing a Modern Brazil

Carpenters Workshop Gallery presents Turning Tides: Designing a Modern Brazil, a historical exhibition that commemorates the vibrant era of Brazilian Modernism. This period marked the pinnacle of creativity when Rio de Janeiro, up until 1960, held the esteemed title of Brazil’s capital and stood as the epicentre of profound cultural change.

This exhibition is a celebration of pioneering works that emerged during this counter-culture period of the 1950s-60s, reflecting the city’s dynamic artistic energy and visionary expression. It honours a diverse cadre of Brazilian artists who navigated and shaped their creations in the crucible of Rio de Janeiro’s culturally rich history.

In Rio, visionary expression flourished. Notably, it was on the beaches of Rio De Jeneiro that Bossa Nova found its origins, and groundbreaking abstract art took root. Architects like Oscar Niemeyer and designers such as Joaquim Tenreiro, Lina Bo Bardi, Jose Zanine Caldas, Jorge Zalszupin, and Sergio Rodrigues infused a modernist feel into homes, offices, and public spaces, creating a distinctive Latin American design vocabulary.

The exhibited works include Joaquim Tenreiro’s Coffee Table (1950), made using Vinhático, a native Brazilian wood, a tribute to Latin America’s local wood and craftsmanship. Lina Bo Bardi’s Writing Desk (1950) exemplifies her pioneering contribution to Brazilian Modernism, breaking gender barriers for women in a time and field mostly reserved for men. Jorge Zalszupin’s Lounge Set, Topolino, is a fusion of European influences with the local aesthetic, showcasing a new modern language unique to Brazil.

This transformative period in Brazil witnessed Rio de Janeiro as a cauldron of unparalleled creativity and cultural dynamism. Against a backdrop of sweeping political and social changes, the country experienced a seismic cultural shift that would eventually influence global design. As the epicentre of this cultural renaissance, Rio de Janeiro became a melting pot for artists, designers, and thinkers, fostering an environment where experimentation and innovation thrived. This era laid the foundation for the emergence of Brazilian design to emerge as a global force with which to be reckoned.