Humberto Campana. “With Louis Vuitton I learned discipline”

Certainly because he has always kept his feet on the ground, that today he works with the greatest and that he is a reference in his field. Not to mention the legend. For twelve years now, Brazilian artist Humberto Campana has occasionally collaborated on Objets Nomades, the Louis Vuitton project that annually gives carte blanche to top designers to imagine and create a collection of contemporary design objects. extremely limited edition. If this story between the luxury house and the artist has lasted this long, it is because they share the same desires. These, without ever losing humility, push the boundaries, think bigger, combine elegance and functionality and constantly seek innovation.

In 2012, the Campana brothers, who have worked together since 1984, created Maracatu for Objets Nomades, a portable travel cabinet characterized by multi-colored bands made of Louis Vuitton leather pieces. Cocoon will follow in 2015, Bomboca sofa in 2017 and Bulbo armchair in 2019. After the tragic death of his brother Fernando in 2022, Humberto continues this project, always accompanied by the Louis Vuitton team. This year, the second edition of Design Miami.Paris 2024 is being held in parallel with Art Basel.

LV Dream, the French label’s free exhibition space located in front of the Pont-Neuf in Paris, invites fashion and design lovers to (re)discover the works of Louis Vuitton’s Objets Nomades with Estúdio Campana together. As a bonus, with 6 unique pieces inspired by mythical figures of the Brazilian imagination, designed by Humberto Campana for the 40th anniversary of his studio. Which, like everything presented, evokes a wealth of knowledge, passion and talent.

Madame Figaro: How did your story with Louis Vuitton begin?

Humberto Campana: It all started twelve years ago, when the house invited me to work on its “Objets Nomades” project. I was very excited because I always wanted to collaborate with Louis Vuitton. Do you know why? Especially for the fantasy that this group brings with its fashion. In my opinion, Louis Vuitton is modernity. The first time I visited the brand’s workshops, I was impressed with their materials. This collaboration was an invitation to bring my vision. I’m a storyteller and I love to tell where I came from. My first project dates back to 2012 and was called Maracatu, a portable and multi-colored travel cabinet. Working with the Louis Vuitton team is fantastic. These are not just my creations, they belong to everyone. I bring poetry, they bring me mathematics. No matter what they come up with, I know the result will be stunning.

There are many values ​​that you share with the house of Louis Vuitton, such as the need to explore the world, to travel, to perpetuate a legacy…

And getting out of your comfort zone emotionally as well. Everything I offer at Louis Vuitton is about travel, even when I design a sofa. Because I mostly paint objects that take you to another place, another landscape. Through my craft I try to create a kind of Brazilian narrative, a country known for its rich cultural traditions, to show where I come from. I want to bring my Native, Afro, Italian, Portuguese, Japanese, Lebanese heritage into my work.

I’m very intuitive, I’m actually a Pisces. I go with intuition.

Humberto Campana

I loved the Iara seat, inspired by a mermaid, a mythical figure from the freshwater bodies of Brazil. How do you manage to represent such a complex creature on an armchair?

I am not a brain, I am a stomach. That said, I’m very intuitive… I’m a Pisces, by the way. I go for intuition. I am not a person who likes to talk, I use my communication to serve my art. I’m a shy person, so I always do my best to make my pieces convey good energy to those who will admire them.

Has this collaboration with Louis Vuitton changed the way you work?

With this collaboration, I am trying to push myself beyond my limits. I’ve learned so much in twelve years it’s as if I had a master’s degree in design and communication. It taught me a form of discipline while allowing me to avoid getting lost along the way. You know, as the signs of Pisces sometimes get a little lost… At first, I came up with rough ideas, but working with them, I had to go further, go deeper. I delved into details previously unknown to me.

My complexity is what represents me best. Louis Vuitton was the perfect place to pitch my ideas and concepts.

Humberto Campana

Before you were an artist, you were a lawyer. Why did you leave this career?

I realized that I want to build my life with my own hands. I went to Bali, somewhere near the ocean, and started collecting shells. I took them home, cleaned them and decorated my walls with them. I am a good craftsman because I love handwork. If someone asked me today if I’m a designer, I might tell them I’m more like “a lot of things.” My complexity is what represents me best. And Louis Vuitton was the perfect place to pitch my ideas and concepts.

How have you reinvented yourself after all these years?

I keep my feet on the ground. I always keep in mind where I come from. I was born in the 1950s in a village, in a place where there was nothing, not even a museum. Only a cinema, where every evening I took shelter to watch the films of Federico Fellini, Roger Vadim… And during the day I had fun reenacting scenarios with my children’s toys, building tree houses. When I was little and people asked me what I wanted to do when I grew up, I said, And this is who I am today because I realized that my passion for crafts stems from indigenous art.

What has France taught you?

Respect. I had the opportunity with my brother to create “Café Campana” at the Musée d’Orsay, to organize an exhibition at the Museum of Decorative Arts in 2012. I have fewer such opportunities in my country of origin. Perhaps because the French love difference, which means that everyone is inspired by France. I work out this difference.

The Louis Vuitton Objets Nomades collection in collaboration with Estúdio Campana can be found at LV Dream in Paris until December 2024. Book tickets here .