LUXURY 24

Of course, his Italian roots, besides his surname, can be recognized in other things: «I am going to my mother's for the weekend – says Humberto Campana – in the countryside of Brotas, where we grew up. There are waterfalls, trees; it is so wonderful after a week of working in San Paolo». Campana has just turned 56 and is eight years older than his brother Fernando, who he started the creative duo "Campana Brothers" with in 1983, after having left his career as an attorney. A career full of success that allowed them to become the most important Brazilian designers and also allowed them to hold an exhibition at the MOMA of New York, and in last December, they were nominated "Designer of the Year" at the Miami Design. The companies adore their tropical fantasy, the museums want to show their works (the latest Vitra, which will be held in May), universities all over the world call them for lessons and seminars. Recently Humberto Campana has been happy about the imminent opening of the headquarters of the European Institute of Design in Rio de Janeiro, after the inauguration, five years ago, of the headquarters in San Paolo. «It will be a very beautiful place that faces the sea», he says.
Campana, how is young Brazilian design changing?
Very well! More and more young people are inspired by the Brazilian culture and by our nature, not just copying American design or Scandinavian design. I like the creations by Tetè Knetch a lot, who is working on shoes made of hay, and by Rodrigo Almeida. Unfortunately we are lacking a network of businessmen who believe in our young people.
But how can Brazilian creativity develop if it is not supported by the investments of the companies?
The businessmen who have money to invest, especially the big ones, only want an immediate profit. The smaller businessmen give us the best surprises: an example is Grendene, the shoe brand we have been working with for three years, which although it is rather small has also called Zaha Hadid and Karim Rashdid to collaborate. Another problem is that in Brazil design is not discussed, but everyone only talks about fashion!
However they also speak about ecology a lot, an important theme in your work. Do you think that eco-design, not limited to a niche, could become an industrial production?
Of course, in about 5-8 years. Objects that are totally recyclable and of great quality, as Artecnica has been producing for some time already, in Los Angeles.
Then eco-design could become a fashion label, given to a bit of everything?
Of course, it could be a dangerous label: Let's think: just what is ecological? The so-called Amazonian "certified wood". Let's not joke about it! When you cut down a tree in the forest, you kill a delicate eco-system. So then what kind of ecology can this be?
Could you think of an international certification of eco-design that has strict standards to be admitted?
I only wish! People must discover the deep tie they have with nature, eliminating those plastic chairs as well that by now are just about everywhere. I have faith in the young people, a generation that is more sensitive than ours to this subject.
Could you ever abandon ecology for another source of inspiration?
We will always have the desire to recover something, and we are making a big commitment in this sense in each of our creations. For example, for the Pvc shoes made for Grendene we expected them to be made with as much recyclable plastic as possible. We are working on new products made of hay and terracotta. And now we are also recovering a hotel in Athens.
A hotel? Will you restore as well?
No it is a project we are doing with a design institute in Athens: we are trying to recover old furniture, decorations, it is a sort of tailor work that we really like a lot.
So, you could also get into fashion?
Who knows, the important thing is to not lack fantasy which is also a good antidote against the crisis. Creation, as Bruno Munari says, must not have barriers.
(Translation by Sara Cecere)