Tenreiro: the hand, the making, the soul of wood

Maria Cecilia Loschiavo dos Santos is Full Professor at the University of São Paulo in Brazil and is visiting UBI with funding from the FCT, resulting from an application by iA* with the purpose of researching the origins of the renowned Portuguese-Brazilian designer, Joaquim Tenreiro (1906-1992), born in the village of Melo, located in the Serra da Estrela. Since Joaquim Tenreiro moved to Brazil at a young age, he received his initial training in carpentry in Portugal. Therefore, the aim is not only to deepen the historical and biographical knowledge about his early life, but also to understand the historical and cultural connections between the local and initial formative context in Portugal and the extensive and relevant work that the designer produced throughout his life.

Loschiavo dos Santos’ latest book, “Tradition and Modernity in Brazilian Furniture” (2024), includes a chapter that addresses the designer’s work and thought in Brazil, which will be the basis for this Open Lecture.

Loschiavo dos Santos  is intimate with her culture, and an expert in Design; in particular the relations between Art, Architecture, Design, and the tradition of Brazilian spirituality; how from the inception of the 20th century these elements permeated the Brazilian way of life in the modernist period. Loschiavo dos Santos’s research also includes the other side of modernization: the desperately poor, the homeless, and their struggle for survival in this world. Loschiavo dos Santos is the author of several books, among them Modern furniture in Brazil; and Jorge Zalszupin – modern design in Brazil. She has coauthored several books including: José Zanine Caldas; Bernardo Figueiredo: designer and Brazilian architect; Zanini de Zanine. Her editorship extendes to several books, among them Design, waste and dignity; Artistic cartography and design explorations towards the pluriverse. Among her awards Loschiavo has received the Prêmio MCB, from the Museu da Casa Brasileira for her book “Modern Furniture in Brazil”; the screenwriter of the documentary movie “À margem da imagem” (On the fringes of São Paulo: homeless.) which explores themes such as urban degradation, and marginalization. “À margem da imagem” was awarded the “Best documentary” film at the Gramado Film Festival, in Brasil, 2003. Her most recent book, based in her phd thesis, is “Tradição e modernidade no móvel Brasileiro”, 2024 [Tradition and Modernity in Brazilian furniture].