Trancoso, Hugo França

Posted by Brechtje on 25 July 2009

Our pousada (guesthouse) is run by a Swiss (Felix) and Brazilian (Thais). As we were their only guests we had our private hotel. It is low season here in Brazil, as it is there winter time. December is their high season. Although the photo may suggest we were on holiday, don't get misleaded. We arranged a meeting at 7 am to go and film Hugo at his atelier and a place where he stocks his precious roots and wood.  That meant waking up at 5.30 to have breakfast and prepare all our equipment.

Hugo lives partly in São Paulo and in Bahia. He has chosen Bahia for his atelier,as the wood often comes from there and the people know how to work with wood. Next to that it is a beautiful place, the town has the smell of an old hippie place. That has been taken over by the big spenders.

He has an inspiring philosophy on his work. He started with the motivation to create long lasting furniture. Its totally unnecessary to buy new furniture every few years, which is normal for a lot of people. His sculpture furniture lasts for ever, as it is made from the indestructible Pequi wood. Next to that he uses only dead wood. Wood that is found in the forest or in the fields that used to be forest but are now used for agriculture or cattle. The Pequi trees only grow in Atlantic rainforest that is all most vanished, so are the Pequi, that used to grow tall above the other trees. The local indians used the tree to make canoes as it is very strong, and doesn't get affected by the water. Hugo first series were made of the canoes. From something that might seem worthless to many, old canoes. roots and trunks of dead wood, Hugo creates furniture that is exhibited in New York and Paris and sold to the rich and famous.

Now he creates a whole new universe of sculptures of this special wood.  He give the tree a second life. See more on Hugo França on projects.

17 comments. Tags: deepeei.