Lightness & Tension brings together two distinct voices in Brazilian design, linking mid-century modernist Joaquim Tenreiro with contemporary artist Lucas Simões. Staged in Los Angeles, the exhibition creates a dialogue between the past and present through furniture, sculpture, and experimental forms. Tenreiro’s work, known for its elegant wooden frames and woven cane surfaces, embodies balance and a rejection of the heavy colonial style that once dominated interiors. His pieces carry an air of refinement, privileging visual lightness and structural clarity.

Simões introduces contrast by fracturing surfaces, bending forms, and treating material as a site of tension. His experimental approach highlights resistance, pushing structure toward rupture while maintaining a sculptural presence. Displayed side by side, the works emphasize Brazil’s ability to balance heritage with reinvention. The exhibition shows how restraint, craft, and innovation coexist, presenting Brazilian design as a living language that continues to evolve while remaining rooted in cultural history.

Image Credit: Ulysses de Santi