Carlos Motta

de Paulo Lima

Carlos Motta personally executes every step of his creations, from the initial design to the finishing details. Much of Motta's work sits within the context of the counter-culture movement; surfing, yoga, healthy eating, a natural lifestyle and a respect towards nature. The designer whose main features is the pioneer use of wood and the concern with environmental and social responsibility in Brazil, is involved with environmental conservation, making use of raw materials from renewable sources and chooses sustainable options with ecologically certified or reclaimed wood. The result is strong, durable furniture that is elegantly conceived and built. Motta graduated with a degree in architecture in So Paulo, 1976. He worked as a designer and cabinetmaker in Santa Cruz, California, while attending classes in building techniques at Cabrillo College. Later, Motta studied and did research Finland on molded and rolled wood. Carlos has participated in numerous exhibitions in Brazil and abroad, including Brazil Faz Design, in Milan, Italy; International Biennial of Design, in Saint Etienne, France; and Object Brazil - 500 Years of Design, at Pinacoteca do Estado de So Paulo, Brazil. He has been awarded many important prizes, most notably the Hors Concours Award at the IX Premio do Museu da Casa Brasileira; First Place, Aluizio Magalhes Prize, at the V Competition of Industrial Design; and First Place, Best Furniture Design, at II Prmio do Museu da Casa Brasileira. Motta is a professor of Planning at FAAP University in Sao Paulo. Edited by Paulo Lima (publisher of Trip Publisher) and Rafic Farah (architect and designer), the book comprises a series of interviews given by Carlos Motta to Adelia Borges (journalist and curator), Alfredo Pimenta (architect) and Paulo Lima, and the combined statements from clients, friends and relatives such as: Gilberto Dimenstein, Jose Zaragoza, Paulo Mendes da Rocha, Srgio Rodrigues and Walter Salles that participated with their testimonies. The publication comes with a DVD, titled "Carlos Motta on the waves of life". The documentary lasts 30 minutes and includes, as the book the life and work of Motta.