david elia to represent brazil at 2018 london design biennale

following the 2016 edition of the london design biennale, the event returns to the UK capital between september 4-23, 2018. representing six continents, a diverse group of countries, cities, and territories will respond to the theme ’emotional states’. carrying the flag for brazil will be david elia, an artist and designer appropriately based in london and rio de janeiro.

rendering of the planned ‘desmatamento’ installation
image courtesy of the london design biennale

curated by waldick jatoba, david elia’s installation is titled ‘desmatamento’, meaning ‘deforestation’, and is based on the design of his chair that shares the same name. since 2004, deforestation rates have decreased by 80% in brazil. however, despite these reductions, the issue is still a challenge in the amazon rainforest, which is why brazil has committed to end illegal deforestation in the amazon by 2030.

the installation is based on the design of david elia’s ‘desmatamento’ chair

at the london design biennale, the installation will use the stumps of found tree trunks to represent the breathtaking surroundings of brazil’s mata atlântica rainforest. the design evokes the topography of the forest, where various sizes and shapes of plants coexist. meanwhile, the ultramarine blue pigment at the base of the trunks echoes the real mark used by forest wardens to indicate trees that are to be saved.

elia has studios in london and rio de janeiro

beyond its symbolic resonance, ‘desmatamento’ poetically aims to capture the sense of being in a rainforest. evoking emotions such as fear, surprise, and wonder, elia intends to immerse visitors within a fragile ecosystem in order to share the beauty and significance of brazil’s rainforest not only to brazil, but to the rest of the world.

the tijuca forest overlooking rio de janeiro