The exhibition will display the pieces of the Porto Collection that combines art and sensuality at Stand L161 from 19-22 September at Earls Court in London. All the shapes, movements, gestures and colours saved in the imagination of Marco Sousa have been transcribed into the furniture. Porto is also a tribute to Sousa’s hometown.
Ballet Lamp is inspired by the most influential dance in the world, Ballet. One of the most classic maneuvers of the Ballet Blanc, the Grand Plie, is represented in the lamp. The rhythmic movement of feet flowing on this dance was the inspiration behind the foot of the lamp, structured in solid wood. The lampshade balances the whole piece mirroring ballet itself. The position of the dancer’s hands and arms creates a sense of balance and subtlety maintaining the lamp upright, spreading light up and down and creating a low light neutral environment. Featuring veneer finish, the lamp has a power cord inside, and is silver-plated. It is 57 cm long and 25 cm wide.
BatEye created the “Silhouette” sideboard which is distinguished by its architectural forms, generous size and multi-functional interior. It features satinwood drawers and a wine cellaret for 12 bottles. The structure is made from stainless steel and also involves a wide variety of hardwoods, such as rosewood and ironwood, coupled with the hallmark elegance of the tiles painted and placed manually. The sideboard features an exotic veneer finish. It is 103 cm long, 227 cm wide and 80 cm deep.
Sensuality armchair has fine features with aggressive shape, and is designed as a seductive piece. It is inspired by sensuality and herald of its tribute. Structured in solid wood, it is upholstered in high quality fabric with varnish coating. It is 110 cm long, 80 cm wide and 80 cm deep.
Porto is known for its wine. Earlier, port wine was placed in barrels up north and then transported to Porto where barrels were superimposed on the “Rabelo” boats and brought to Vila Nova de Gaia cellars to be stored. “Cask Mirror” from Bat eye was inspired on these overlapping movements of barrels in the Rabelo boats. Made of wood, it is finished in high gloss lacquer. The piece is 120 cm long, 160 cm wide and 5 cm deep.
Arc Sidebar is a fine and delicate piece by the hand of the artisan, offering an exquisite interior carefully designed and finished in satin wood. It is inspired by the “Bridge D. Luís” in Porto, where the metal bridge joining the two banks of the river has been featured as a design element into the support base. Some colour was added to the sidebar along with tiles painted by hand. Lacquered in Mother Pearl, the sidebar has a satinwood interior with iron feet. It is 98 cm long, 193 cm wide and 71 cm deep.
The Console elegance was inspired by the Fountain of Lions, a public facility built by the French Compaigne Générale pour L’Eaux Entranger, concessionaire of the city’s water supply. The console elegance is based on this fountain, in its movement and shape. It features a veneer structure in rosewood with a satinwood interior, and is finished with natural varnish. It is 90 cm long, 50 cm wide and 50 cm deep.
Rhythmic movements sideboard was inspired by the uneven shapes and movements formed by the rooftops on the city of Porto. This pattern served as model for the concave shape of the piece, both in its interior and exterior. With structure in exotic wood, the sideboard is finished in lacquered black and varnish coating. It is 90 cm long, 180 cm wide and 55 cm deep.
Based on the mooring cleats of the sea, Marco Sousa created the piece “Ties”. In this bench, the legs are twisted as a metaphor for the strong ropes holding the boats, while the smaller cables around symbolise the smaller ships berthed to shore. It has an iron structure and is hand woven. Upholstered in high quality velvet, its dimensions are Height: 50 cm, Diameter: 40 cm.
Reflection Console represents the reflections of the Douro River. The tabletop on this piece is silver plated with a special lacquer gradient to make it look different under different light conditions. Different light effects will generate different pieces to look at. With a rosewood veneer structure, the table is topped with silver plated varnish finish. The dimensions are Height: 100 cm, Width: 160 cm, Depth: 40 cm.
