Recently on view at Christie’s Los Angeles, Lightness & Tension celebrates the enduring legacy of Brazilian design. Curated by gallerist Ulysses de Santi, the exhibition brings together two voices working nearly a century apart: Joaquim Tenreiro, often hailed as the father of modern Brazilian furniture, and contemporary artist Lucas Simões. Together, their works highlight how the foundations of mid-century Brazil continue to inspire fresh interpretations from emerging talents.
As a pioneer of modern furniture in the mid-20th century, Tenreiro rejected the colonial aesthetic, defined by ornate carving and heavy, imported woods, in favor of lightness: slender frames, woven cane, and graceful proportions. “Tenreiro, a pillar of Brazilian design, is known for balance and weightlessness, precision and restraint,” de Santi explains. “Simões, on the other hand – a contemporary response to Tenreiro – fearlessly leans into material rupture and architectural tension.” Like Tenreiro, however, Simões resists convention, pushing against expectations of form and material to explore balance and contrast, as evident in his Colendra collection.
Visitors to Lightness & Tension saw an intimate dialogue across decades of Brazilian design. Tenreiro’s iconic works anchor the space with quiet elegance. His cane weaves and slender wooden frames radiate a timeless sense of lightness. In contrast, Simões’ pieces bring unpredictability. Fractured surfaces and sculptural ruptures draw the eye toward tension and instability. Together, the works create a push and pull that invites viewers to consider how Brazilian design continues to evolve while remaining rooted in a shared material language. “To not only have these works in dialogue with one another, but to have Tenreiro’s pieces presented atop Simões’ installation – at once impossibly heavy and delicate – is a powerful encapsulation of Brazil’s design legacy,” states de Santi.
By pairing Tenreiro’s foundational work with Simões’ experimental vision, de Santi underscores how Brazilian design thrives on dualities: lightness and strength, restraint and rupture, tradition and reinvention. The exhibition highlights not only a lasting legacy but also Brazil’s ongoing influence on global design today.
Lucas Simões
To learn more about the Lightness & Tension exhibition from Ulysses de Santi or to purchase, visit ulyssesdesanti.com.
Photography by Ruy Teixeira.
