‘prostheses and innesti’ by marcio kogan at the london design festival 2012 (above) marcio kogan: mesa radiola – bench table with iPod dock all images courtesy of gallery fumi
designboom recently visited the office of architecture firm studio mk27 (marcio kogan) in brazil (see our mk27 studio visit here) who are representing their country at this year’s venice architecture biennale (see our coverage of the brazil pavilion here). while at their sao paulo workspace, we were introduced to their ‘prostheses and innesti’ project, a collection of works initially created by the construction workers at the firm’s various building sites using materials found on location. presented in an exhibition at london’s gallery FUMI until november 30th, 2012, the interventions are original objects which evoke an effect of contrasts, and offer new meanings and materialityto the materials at hand, redefining, reinterpreting and giving new purpose and prolonged life to them.
the entire series of objects has been produced over the course of four years and include new pieces which have been produced in collaboration with italian architects manuela verga and paolo boatti. these recent works form the ‘italian collection’ of ‘prosthesis and innesti’, and are a result of restoration work on the 15th century castle of vigevano, that was supervised by the duo. like its ‘brazilian collection’ counterpart, verga and boatti’s designs are all made from materials taken from the castle’s building site, constructed by anonymous workers. their impromptu creations are similarly re-invented, intertwined with the raw materials of the ‘made in italy’ brand such as murano’s glass, travertine marble and silk from lake como.
together, the ‘unintentional designs’ of both series are characterized by unique beauty and functionality.
marcio kogan: mesa degustex – dining table with glass top
marcio kogan: mesa alumiada – table with a copper lamp and carbon filament light bulb
verga boatti: romolo e remo – small table characterized by a flexible structure composed by two elements linked by steel hinges.
marcio kogan: porta guarda chuva toro – wooden umbrella holder with chrome plated metallic finish
marcio kogan: mesa escambau – low table with a mirrored drawer finish
marcio kogan: mesa quereres – wood table with jewelry box in red synthetic enamel finish
marcio kogan: banco chamego – bench made from two wooden stools joined together by a carbon fiber seat
marcio kogan: banco amostrado – stool with steel strip plated with 24k gold
marcio kogan: banco pregado – bench fixed with 18k gold plated steel nails
marcio kogan: mesa da hora – side cabinet with a valve numbered clock
(left) marcio kogan: mesa fulo – stool with a laboratory glassware vase (right) marcio kogan: mesa luzlino – side table with night lamp by lumini
marcio kogan: banquinho bo – child’s stool with giraffe back
verga boatti: dolomiti – small table with a portion of the top covered by a golden mosaic.
verga boatti: domus romana – bookcase with shelf in travertine marble, stone employed by the romans in the colosseo in rome and the domus adriana in tivoli.
verga boatti: bell’italia – magazine rack with micro-perforated steel sheet’s insertion.
verga boatti: murano – table with fruit basket in blown glass and gold, bolloton technique, made in murano-venice.
verga boatti: profumi mediterranei – aromatic plant holder with shelves in sheet for mediterranean cookery
installation view of ‘prostheses and innesti at gallery fumi
installation view of ‘prostheses and innesti at gallery fumi
project info:
supply and manufacture of brazilian collection execution: alvaro wolmer movelaria fina ltda tapestry: tapeçaria bubi drawer linen: pascoal mastrorocco lamp: lumini fabrics: jrj
supply and manufacture of italian collection vetreria giovanni seguso – murano venezia seteria bianchi – como passamaneria c.o.v.a. – gallarate varese mosaico bisazza risani marmi – milano carrozzeria panato – bollate milano
