A series of pandemic-caused closures of Mexico City art spaces has done nothing to slow its creative growth with unfazed talents opening new ventures, launching traveling art fairs and tapping into the deep well of artistry in the Mexican capital and beyond.
Home Mexican Modern: the design revolution rooted in history
Mexican Modern: the design revolution rooted in history
Meet the artisans reviving the region’s rich traditions
World Economy News
4 Jun 2021 • 4 min read
The history of artisanship in Mexico runs deep. Long before Europeans set foot in Central America, pre-Hispanic cultures were weaving, carving and moulding materials into everyday objects. It was once a country of many nations – from the Mayans in the Yucatán to the Aztecs in the Central Plateau – each with distinctive cultures, as well as their own advanced style of architecture and artisanship. Yet, despite these deep-rooted traditions and techniques, Mexico has long looked to the north for design inspiration.
Manu Bañó launches raw metal OBJ-01 lamp as first solo project
Designer Manu Bañó, the co-founder of EWE Studio and an Esrawe Studio associate, has introduced his first product under his own name – a lamp made from raw metal that can be assembled by hand.
The OBJ-01 light is made from laser-cut stainless steel, steel or brass and manually assembled using a rubber hammer.
Top image: the OBJ-01 is made from raw metal. Above: the material is sourced from local metal distributors
Bañó buys the metal from different metal distributors in Mexico City, where he s based, looking for the least scratched sheets to have to polish them as little as possible.