The Shape of Memory: Humberto Campana's Dreamwork with Louis Vuitton

Tatler Asia

31-05-2025

For more than a decade, Humberto Campana's work with Louis Vuitton has drawn on the textures of Brazilian nature and the complexity of his inner world. His latest creations continue that delicate balancing act.
In celebration of Louis Vuitton's formidable history of trunk-making, interior design, and artisanal innovation, the Louis Vuitton: Savoir Rêver event, convened at the Riverfront Financial Centre in Ho Chi Minh City, was a compelling showcase of the maison's heritage and craftsmanship.
For Brazilian designer Humberto Campana, whose creations were among those exhibited in the Objets Nomades collection of limited-edition furniture and décor collaborations, the showcase marked another meaningful chapter in a career shaped by deep introspection and emotional depth.
Above Brazilian designer Humberto Campana: 'All these things that I create are a kind of catharsis.'
Visitors to the exhibition were invited into a narrative journey tracing Louis Vuitton's evolution from its beginnings in revolutionary trunk-making to its present-day identity as a purveyor of luxury lifestyle. Archival photographs and original artefacts, such as the iconic flat-top trunk designed for seamless travel by car, train, or ship, set the stage for the immersive experience. A striking highlight was the exclusive pyramid trunk, hand-painted with an evocative depiction of Vietnam's Halong Bay—a poetic tribute to the meeting of French craftsmanship and Vietnamese heritage.
Anchoring the contemporary section was the Objets Nomades collection, where visitors could engage with tactile expressions of global design, such as Humberto Campana's Cocoon chair, the plush Bomboca sofa, and the lushly layered Bulbo chair. The tour concluded with a sparkling display of Louis Vuitton's high jewellery creations, featuring patented diamond cuts such as the Star Blossom and Marquise—each piece underscoring the maison's dedication to artistry, innovation, and storytelling.
The Estúdio Campana pieces presented at the event stand amongst the most distinctive works to emerge from their long-standing partnership with Louis Vuitton; the works have won broad admiration as masterpieces of innovative form and function. Even in these bright moments of recognition and success, however, Campana remains grounded by a creative impulse that reaches inward as much as outward.
'I deal with a lot of shadow,' says Campana. 'I have a big gap, a dark side in my soul. So I need to bring my best in order to heal. All these things that I create are a kind of catharsis.'
Read more: Louis Vuitton brings Savoir Rêver exhibition to Vietnam for the first time
It's a thread that stretches back to Campana's earliest memories. Born with the gift of exquisite sensitivity in what he describes as the hyper-macho rural village of Brotas, Humberto and his younger brother Fernando were raised in a strict Italian Catholic household—one not especially attuned to artistic expression. From a young age, the brothers were drawn to a more poetic way of seeing the world. They found joy in the vibrant hues of nature and the dreamlike beauty of cinema at the local theatre. During Sunday mass, while the padre delivered his sermons, they were often mesmerised by the shifting shapes of sunlight and colour cast onto the floor through the stained-glass windows. When free to roam beyond the town, they would delight in discovering botanical wonders, recreating the scenography of the films they loved in the blush of petals and textures of leaves.
'It was an old generation that belongs to the past,' he says. But I'm still dealing with these beginnings. That's the way that I always come back to my childhood—by creating playful pieces that are very colourful, very happy.'
Above Bulbo—a chair inspired by blooming tropical flowers, creating a sitting space that is both luxurious and cosy.
The Campana Brothers creations on display at Savoir Rêver (perhaps whimsically translated as 'dreamskills') are striking examples of the brothers' work to craft beautiful innovations from the natural inspiration of the Brazilian countryside. The Cocoon hanging chair is an openwork fibreglass shell lined with calfskin, evoking the protective embrace of a butterfly's chrysalis. Suspended like a nest, it invites introspection and serenity, blending organic form with meticulous craftsmanship. The Bulbo chair, unveiled in 2019, resembles a blooming tropical plume flower, its layered petals crafted from Louis Vuitton leather and fabric, offering a luxurious and intimate retreat. Meanwhile, the Bomboca sofa, named after a traditional Brazilian confection, features modular, cloud-like cushions that assemble into a playful yet functional seating arrangement, reflecting the designers' penchant for combining comfort with imaginative design. Together, these pieces exemplify the Campana brothers' ability to transform natural motifs into innovative, dreamlike furniture that harmonises with Louis Vuitton's artistry and travel-inspired design.
'All of our pieces are inspired by nature,' explains Campanas. 'I love nature. I love to plant trees. I love to make drawings about microorganisms; yes, I'm very fascinated by this world.'
Above Bomboca, a sofa named after a traditional Brazilian candy, impresses with a playful, imaginative yet functional design approach.
Humberto Campana's love for the natural world is part of what attracts him to Asia, a region he associates with the character of grace and gentleness that was absent from his childhood. 'I feel at home here,' he sighs. 'I left the plane and I smelled the smell of Asia. There is a tenderness. A connection with spirituality, all these elements that make me feel relaxed.' This is his third visit to Vietnam; during a previous trip he was captured by a boat ride he took along the Mekong River, where he purchased a traditional folding bamboo chair to commemorate the experience. The piece reminded him of his own work with natural fibres back home.
'I think I am much more like an alchemist,' Campana explains. 'I love to transform things. Two years ago, I worked in India to create a cabinet made out of grass and brass. I also love to work with charcoal. Now I'm creating chairs in bamboo too, piling them, creating a very complicated structure. Our work is not minimalist, it's extremely complex. Like my soul, because I still don't know who I am today.
'More and more I want to focus on this, because natural elements heal you. It's a kind of calm. There is the smell of the wood, there is the colour of the grass. It brings a nice vibe to the ambience.'
Read more: Discover the world of Louis Vuitton trunks: Heritage, innovation and the art of living
Above The Campana Brothers creations on display at Savoir Rêver (perhaps whimsically translated as 'dreamskills') are striking examples of the brothers' work to craft beautiful innovations from the natural inspiration of the Brazilian countryside
This creative momentum, grounded in memory but oriented toward renewal, continues to propel Campana's vision today. At the heart of his practice is a desire to give back to his country, to his community, and to the natural world that has inspired him since childhood. His latest ambitions include establishing a foundation in the Brazilian countryside, where design, environmental education, and poetic beauty converge. 'It's a way to regenerate nature, to create workshops, and to share our journey,' he explains. The foundation will house a small museum celebrating the Campana studio's four-decade legacy, while also offering space for crafts, contemplation, and connection.
'I don't have kids. I'm not married,' he says. 'This is what I leave behind. It's something for my community.' In that gesture, as in so much of his work, Campana moves to resolve the emotional and material threads of his life into a force that heals, uplifts, and inspires.
At the same time, Campana was searching for his own sense of self-worth. 'I love the studio. I love my people working with me, and I love creating things that people can use. Maybe it's a way to be seen, to be validated. Because my work goes into people's homes, and I feel welcome.
'I'm a very shy person, I don't have so many friends. I love to be alone. For me, it's wonderful to be in silence, and that's perfect. I need silence in order to create, to deal with my devils.'
READ MORE
La Beauté - Louis Vuitton's new chapter in the world of beauty
Louis Vuitton brings Cruise 2026 runway to Apostolic Palace heritage
Louis Vuitton welcomes global superstar Lisa as new house ambassador