João Mouro

February 13th, 2011 · Arts, Design
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We met João Mouro, a young creator (so we won’t have to pick between artist, designer, cabinet-maker or artisan) in the discreet “Galeria 59″ (his own gallery and workshop) where we spent a moment to chat and find out about his very unique work.

There we saw a few exquisite objects built from found furniture, with a twist. These cabinets (mostly) were made in the shape of buildings, hence his own definition of furniture/model.

One of the smallest objects he had in the gallery, note the carpeted terrace detail

All this started with the comparison of rows of drawers with building floors, and small aluminium profiles with the large ones that frame windows. Than the balconies become handles, the inner shelves become the floor (often carpeted), the cabinet doors the façade. All this evolved to the point of adding gardens, pools, stairs and ramps, to form a mix between an abstract “colage” of materials and a large scale model of a building.

One of the most complex examples, with a ramp in concrete, stairs to the terrace and a “garden” on top
Another example showing clearly the use of carpet on the inside of the drawer

These “buildings” mostly start from the carcase of a found cabinet, so the construction of such item is somewhat improvised and dependant on the materials available. It’s really one big improvisation, with several delicious details scattered through.

An example of his wall mounted façade work, here featuring a ramp leading from a pool

A detail of the main beam coming inside the “building”

One of the most beautiful aspect of these creations is the richness and variations possible. Allowing for a great range of sizes, styles and details, according to the materials sourced. These can be glass, aluminium, plastic, concrete, wood, carpet, copper, pretty much any thing you can find on the street, and then carefully combined to create his pieces.

A more oriental style cabinet featuring golden domes, and turned furniture parts

Another important aspect of  his creations, is that they are worked all around, so in the back of the object you can still find very interesting details, such as windows, or coloured panels. Although they definitely have a front its a shame to hide a bit of this object against any wall.


Detail of a cabinet, featuring the carpet, lining a shelf covered in ceramic tiles

João has started doing some work towards mobile homes, with the intent to create big wheeled houses, even richer and more ambiguous in a promise to surprise us even more.

An early exploration of the “vehicle buildings”
In case you can’t visit him at his Gallery in Bairro Alto (rua Diário de notícias, nº59, Lisbon), you may be able to catch his most recent exhibition to come, in Galerie Patrick Lancz ( rue Ernest Allard, nr 15, Brussel), starting the 7th of April.

All images were kindly provided by João Mouro