Surrounded by verdant mountains, the remote Brazilian region of Minas Gerais is a world away from the narrow Parisian streets in the Marais; yet the organic creations from Domingos Tótora seem perfectly suited to the white minimalist backdrop of gallery James Paris.
That the Brazilian designer achieves his striking, flawlessly-formed decorative objects exclusively from reclaimed cardboard enhances the contextual divide even further. Here, against the white-walled backdrop (conceived by DAS Studio), Tótora’s elongated vessels, ridged discs and slanted stools could be alternately interpreted as primitive or contemporary - yet are also unquestionably artisanal.
Every piece begins the same way: the cardboard is broken down into small enough pieces to be turned into a pulp. Tótora and his studio team then sculpt the forms by hand, sometimes leaving the texture smooth, other times forming tactile, elaborately repeated reliefs. Like a lo-fi version of firing clay, the works bake in the sun before any last finishing touches. The collection on display reaffirms how such humble material can be coaxed into a variety of finessed surfaces.
The most unexpected of all is a 2.5 metre-long solid bench; its burnt umber hue and crackled, almost granular, appearance could hardly be traced back to a pile of discarded boxes. One of the discs consists of small squares embellished with a dimensional pattern. A striped motif is subtly integrated into the fluted vases.
If there is an arte povera element to the concept, it also represents a deeper desire towards refined, sustainable design. 'He puts it to use rather than to waste,' says Candice Fauchon, who runs James Paris with her partner Paul Viguier, seeking out the best in Brazilian modernism. Tótora’s pieces are available as an open edition by special order, which makes sense given the endless supply of cardboard. 'It’s an approach in perfect harmony with nature,' she adds. It’s a satisfying thought that is reaffirmed by the faintly detectable earthy scent inherent to each piece.
’Anforas’ (in foreground) and ’Banco Terrao’. Every piece begins the same way: the cardboard is broken down into small enough pieces to be turned into a pulp
’Disco Plano Relevo’ (left) and ’Disco Plano Frisos’. Tótora and his studio team then sculpt the forms by hand, either creating a smooth texture or repeated reliefs
’Banco Pardo’, 2015
’Vaso Organico Casca Mod. 4’. Like a lo-fi version of firing clay, the works bake in the sun before any last finishing touches
Detail of ’Anforas’. The collection reaffirms how such humble material can be coaxed into a variety of finessed surfaces
’Vaso Organico Casca Mod. 2’. Tótora’s pieces are available as an open edition by special order
INFORMATION
For more information, visit James Paris’ website
ADDRESS
18-20, Rue de Thorigny
75003 Paris
-
Venerable British car-maker AC goes OTT with the high-output, low-slung AC GT SuperSportPitched at all-American fans of the original AC Cobra, the GT SuperSport is a fearsome two-seat roadster with more muscle than ever before
-
The dynamic young gallerists reinvigorating America's art scene'Hugging has replaced air kissing' in this new wave of galleries with craft and community at their core
-
Out of office: the Wallpaper* editors’ picks of the weekWhile a few of our editors were in Europe for various showcases and launches, others stayed local, uncovering new cuisines, eccentric exhibitions and glorious gardens this side of the Channel
-
What to see at Rencontres d’Arles 2025, questioning power structures in the state and familySuppressed memories resurface in sharply considered photography at Rencontres d'Arles 2025. Here are some standout photographers to see
-
‘With a small gesture of buying a postcard, we all become copyists’: the Louvre’s celebration of copying speaks to human natureContemporary artists are invited to copy works from the Louvre in a celebration of the copyist’s art, a collaboration with Centre Pompidou-Metz
-
Wolfgang Tillmans brings a performative edge to bibliophilia at the Centre Pompidou’s libraryAs the Centre Pompidou’s library is emptied ahead of the venue’s five-year restoration, the German photographer moves in for a final fling of a Paris exhibition
-
A song for the dead – Josh Homme on performing for six million souls in the bowels of the Paris CatacombsA rock band, a brush with death and an underground tomb coalesce in haunting new Queens of the Stone Age film, ‘Alive in the Catacombs’. Wallpaper* meets frontman Josh Homme and director Thomas Rames
-
The glory years of the Cannes Film Festival are captured in a new photo book‘Cannes’ by Derek Ridgers looks back on the photographer's time at the Cannes Film Festival between 1984 and 1996
-
Technology, art and sculptures of fog: LUMA Arles kicks off the 2025/26 seasonThree different exhibitions at LUMA Arles, in France, delve into history in a celebration of all mediums; Amy Serafin went to explore
-
Contemporary artist collective Poush takes over Château La CosteMembers of Poush have created 160 works, set in and around the grounds of Château La Coste – the art, architecture and wine estate in Provence
-
‘David Hockney 25’: inside the artist’s blockbuster Paris show‘David Hockney 25’ has opened at Fondation Louis Vuitton in Paris. Wallpaper’s Hannah Silver took a tour of the colossal, colourful show
