Spanish designer Manu Bañó, based in Mexico, is known for his minimalist approach to metal. His creations in copper, brass, and steel highlight his deep respect for the material.
A material he has mastered through a skill that allows him to transform sheets of metal into pieces that straddle the line between design and functional art. His creations display imperfections that the designer doesn't try to hide: integral to his artistic approach, these imperfections are accompanied by the patina that develops over time, making Bañó's work a long-term endeavor. This approach is evident in his brand-new collection entirely dedicated to copper, a metal whose boundaries he has chosen to push. To achieve this, the designer worked with artisans from Santa Clara del Cobre in Mexico, a city known for its long tradition of goldsmithing. Accustomed to crafting small pieces by hammering thin sheets of orange metal, the artisans took their skills to a new level at Manu Bañó's request.
Proof of this can be seen in a pair of fascinating mirrors designed to be hung on the wall. The designer explores the reflective properties of copper, which, once polished, displays a surface reminiscent of a mirror. Inseparable from one another, the two objects share the same outline but not the same profile: one is concave, the other convex.
The collection also includes another pair of mirrors, this one designed to stand on the floor. Both are identical and symmetrical. The hammering process, necessary for their creation, not only achieved this unique texture but also deformed the initial copper sheet, giving rise to the form and structure of these two massive works.
Four majestic works which, in addition to demonstrating the designer's mastery of metal, highlight his talent for taming light.
