Petrichor, The Smell of Rain
Exhibition October 24 — March 16, 2024
local Casa do Design, Matosinhos
curador Fernando Brízio
Core Programme
After a dry, hot period, the first drops of water falling to the earth, give off the smell of rain. This phenomenon is called Petrichor (from the Greek pétros, stone + īchṓr, ethereal fluid or blood of the gods, as understood in Greek mythology). The aroma, often associated with the smell of the earth, is generated by the oils released by some plants during arid and hot periods and seems to set off and invade our sensoria, i.e. the part of the brain that is thought to be the common core of all sensations.
The description of this phenomenon is a simplification of what actually happens, but it serves to introduce the idea of a natural, aqueous fluid interface, to which we can associate many other interfaces designed by humans. In this exhibition, we want to show some of these fluid interfaces (artificial heart valves, rituals, plant rafts, shipping traffic trackers, underwater vehicles for mapping underground aquifers, the use of bio-pigments, and water collectors, among many others) and also places of communication, exchange, interaction/intra-action between water (in its various states), and between water and other agents. We want to emphasise the ubiquity of water, its presence and circulation as a central element connecting all things. We, humans and more than humans, are connected through a common water flow, we share the same water that enters our bodies and exudes from them and which, through biology, becomes other matter.
Exhibition Opening
24.10.2023 - 5 pm
+ info
Casa do Design
Edifício Paços do Concelho
Rua de Alfredo Cunha, 4450-009 Matosinhos
Monday to friday
09:00 — 12:30, 14:00 — 17:30
Saturday, Sunday and holidays
15:00 — 18:00
Participants: Academia Ibérica da Máscara - António Tiza,Alexis Rosenfeld, Ali Cherri,Alice Borges, Ana Vala, Aqualonis, Arnout Visser, Arquivo da RTP- Radio Televisão Portuguesa, Atelier Van Lieshout, BLESS (Desiree Heiss and Ines Kaag), Bart Hess, Benjamim Pereira, Bettmann, Bivas Bhattacharjee, Brea Souders, Buro Belén (Brecht Duijf and Lenneke Langenhuijsen), CMIA -Viana do Castelo, Carlos André Santos /Belén Martín - Villanueva de Valrojo, Carlos González Ximénez, Carlos Relvas, Charles Fréger, Constança Entrudo, Dainese + FIS,Dainese + Prada + Pirelli,Dimitris Papaioannou, Diogo Dias João, Ed Hawkins - University of Reading, Fish Bioacoustics Lab, Francesca Sarti _ Arabeschi di Latte, Francisco da Fonseca Henriques, Giulia Marrazzo, Gorvell, Harpreet Sareen, Hatis Noit, Hugo Morango, Imme van der haak,Inesc Tec - Porto,Ira Wyman- AbioCor, Irene Stracuzzi, Isabel Baraona, Isabel Cordovil, Jane Withers, Jonathas de Andrade, João Timóteo, Kirby Morgan, Koichi Kamoshida, Leo Mason- Pina Bausch, LifeStraw, Love Hultén, MIT - Media Lab - Self-Assembly Lab - Dava Newman,Manuel Antunes da Silva / Litoteca do Super Bock Group, Maria Carnall, Martín Ruiz de Azúa / Gerard Moliné, Matilde Boelhouwer, Michel Giacometti, Miguel Nogueira, Mischer’traxler Studio, Museu Terra de Miranda, Museu de Etnologia, Museu de Sines, NASA`s Goddard Earth Observing System, Nelo Kayaks, Nelson Garrido, Nicolau da Costa, Noé Sendas, OOZE ARCHITECTS & URBANISTS, Operation Canopee, Pavels Hedström - Inxects, Raquel Costa, Roni Horn - Louisiana Museum of Modern Art, Rosa Pomar, Sabino Prendas, Salomé Lamas, Satellitemap.space,Science & Society Picture Library,Scripps institution of oceanography/The Marine Physical Laboratory, Smithsonion - National Air and Space Museum Archives, Space10, Studio Boir - Ignant, Susan Schuppli, Teenage Engineering, The University of Tokyo, Tiago Pereira, Vasco Célio, Vista Alegre - Álvaro Siza, Vessel Finder, Yasuaki Kakehi Laboratory.
Fernando Brízio was born in Angola, and studied Design in Lisbon, where he currently lives and works. He has developed products for the industry sector, limited series, exhibitions, scenarios and spaces for companies and organisations like Droog Design, Amorim Cork, Experimenta Design, Nike, Adidas, Authentics, Fábrica Bordallo Pinheiro, Il Coccio, Arena Ensemble, O Som e a Fúria, Museu de Serralves, Cristina Guerra Contemporary Art, Galerie Kreo, etc. His work has been exhibited and published internationally, and is sometimes developed independently, blurring disciplinary boundaries.
Brízio has taught at ESAD.CR since 1999, where he planned and coordinated several courses in the domains of product and space design. He was a professor at the Faculty of Fine Arts Lisbon-UL and a visiting professor at several institutions, like ECAL — École Cantonale d'Art in Lausanne, HFG — Karlsruhe University of Art Design and FCSH of the New University of Lisbon. He has participated in juries and lectures in Portugal and abroad. He has curated several projects and exhibitions, including SCool Ibérica and Paradisaea Lux Frágil 20 anos. His works are part of the permanent collection of MUDE — Museu DO Design e da Moda de Lisboa, and IMA — Museu de Arte de Indianapolis, among other collections. Currently, and in addition to his ongoing projects, Fernando Brízio is a researcher at Lida — Laboratory in Design and Arts of the Polytechnic of Leiria and at the College of Arts of the University of Coimbra.