Plant Based Design Residency #5 - Wicker
Wicker basket weaver Abílio Pereira and designer Toni Grilo collaborated in this residency by Passa Ao Futuro to create a small collection of wicker furniture right at the heart of the artisan’s workshop.
About
10 – 21 June 2024 | Viatodos, Portugal | Passa Ao Futuro
Designer: Toni Grilo, craftsman: Abílio Pereira
A wicker basket weaver Abílio Pereira and designer Toni Grilo work together in the residency by Passa Ao Futuro and created a small collection of wicker furniture. The residency took place in the Artisan’s workshop located in the garage of his two-story concrete house, it’s a large, 200m2 open space, divided into different rooms for different purposes through self-made concrete block walls – storage, workshop, sales/display -, and with a big door that brings in good natural light.
JUNTO is a collection of wicker furniture that was born out of the collaboration between the designer Toni Grilo and the craftsman Abílio Pereira for Passa ao Futuro.
JUNTO, which means together in Portuguese, is a line of furniture based on traditional Portuguese basketry, with a contemporary and disruptive look.
The collection features a series of stools, chairs, armchairs and sofas, made up of just 2 modular elements, of 2 different heights, which can be joined together to form a multitude of seating types.
From the wicker field located in the region of Barcelos, in the north of Portugal, cultivated by Mr. Abílio himself, the natural material is worked by hand, wicker by wicker, then intertwined to create the elements, in the shape of inverted baskets. These are reinforced by a tubular metal structure on the inside.
JUNTO, Small basket willow module, 22 x 45 x 54 cm, JUNTO, Big basket willow module, 22 x 75 x 54 cm; photos: Inês Silva Sá, Passa Ao Futuro
Designer:
Toni Grilo, Designer and Art Director, was born in France where he graduated from the École Boulle in Paris in 2001. He immediately went to Lisbon, continuing to develop projects in France. In Portugal, while finding its roots, he discovered a rich country in industry and crafts and he became obsessed by the beauty of technical processes and materials. After various collaborations, he decided to stay permanently in Portugal: in 2005 he founded his first agency, Objection, with the designer Elder Monteiro. In 2008 he opened his own studio, where he is focused on creating products, furniture and scenography.
Craftsman:
Working in basketry for over 55 years, Abílio Pereira learned to make baskets from a neighbour, at the age of 14. Throughout his life he has had several professions, namely in the sectors of resin extraction, textile weaving and building industry. At the age of 40 and following a kidney disease, he decided to dedicate himself exclusively to basketry. He currently cultivates a small plantation of basket willow, to ensure his production locally and avoid the international import of the raw material, and also uses wood from invasive tree species as it has no other uses. He makes mostly picnic baskets, furniture and lighting, combining metal frames with woven shells. All production is done in-house.
