Fernando Laposse

Fernando Laposse Natural Banquita Sisal: SOLD

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Previously exhibited at Miami 2021.

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Description/

These benches are made with sisal, the raw fibers from the leaves of the agave plant which are typically used to make ropes, carpets and fishing nets. Once a large industry in Mexico, the production of sisal came to a grinding halt after the invention of plastics. For me it was important to do the whole procedure, from harvesting the plant to extracting the fibers and knotting them by hand. With this I hope to remind us of that some answers to the environmental challenges of the future might be found in traditional crafts rather than exclusively in new technological discoveries.

Sisal fiber.

Fernando Laposse

designer

Fernando Laposse (1988) is a London-based Mexican designer, he trained in Central Saint Martins as a product designer. Fernando specializes in transforming humble natural materials into refined design pieces. He has worked extensively with overlooked plant fibers such as sisal, loofah, and corn leaves. He often works with indigenous communities in his native Mexico to create local employment opportunities and raise awareness about the challenges they face in a globalized world. His projects are informative and educational addressing topics such as the environmental crisis, the loss of biodiversity, community dissolution, migration, and the negative impacts of global trade in local agriculture and food culture. He does so by documenting the issues and announcing possible resolutions through the transformative power of design. His projects have been exhibited in the Triennale di Milano, Cooper Hewitt Design Museum, The Design Museum in London, Victoria and Albert, the World Economic Forum, and Miami Basel to name a few. His work is held in the permanent collections of the V&A and SF MoMA.