OBJ-05-06-07-08-09-11-12
Objects With Narratives presents OBJ-05-06-07-08-09-11-12, the first solo exhibition of Valencian artist and designer Manuel Bano, based in Mexico City. The exhibition is part of the OBJ series, an ongoing body of work composed of chronologically numbered objects that explore the relationship between material, form, and function.
The exhibition brings together a selection of pieces conceived from a single material: recycled copper. Rather than a finished collection of objects, the project is understood as an open investigation into the physical and expressive capacities of copper, pushed to its limits through artisanal processes.
Each piece results from a transformation: the copper is worked through fire and hammer, without industrial mediation. The hammer becomes both tool and language, and form emerges through the repetition of gestures that deform, tension, and stabilise the metal. In this process, idea, action, and material establish a direct and visible relationship.
© Alejandro Ramirez Orozco
Formally, the works originate from elemental geometries and develop as an extension of drawing into space. The objects can be read as materialised traces, where precision does not rely on machinery but on the control of the process.
Rather than being understood as isolated pieces, the works operate as a system of variations. Each object introduces adjustments in proportion, geometry, and scale, configuring an ongoing field of study between function and sculpture.
Produced between Santa Clara del Cobre, Michoacán, and Valle de Chalco, Estado de México, the pieces position Manuel’s work within a contemporary practice in which tradition operates as an active tool. In this context, copper ceases to be a support to become the essence of the project.
© Alejandro Ramirez Orozco
About the artist
Son of an artist mother and a designer father, Manuel grew up in a creative and experimental environment, which sparked an early interest in materials, artisanal techniques, and the nature of objects.
Born in Valencia, Spain, in 1990, he studied Design Engineering at UCH CEU University and completed a master’s degree in Furniture and Lighting in 2012. After his academic journey, Manuel joined Magnus Long Studio in London, where he contributed to projects for Central Saint Martins. In 2013, he moved to Mexico City, where he currently resides and continues his practice.
In 2016, Manuel Bano co-founded EWE Studio alongside Hector Esrawe and Age Salajoe. As design director, he plays a central role in the studio’s development and its growing international presence within the collectible design field.
His work is internationally acclaimed for his minimalist approach primarily focused on metalwork. His designs, especially in copper, brass, and steel, demonstrate a profound respect for the integrity of the material. Through meticulous craftsmanship, Manuel transforms metal sheets into functional sculptures, embracing imperfections and allowing his pieces to gracefully evolve over time. His practice not only embodies functionality but also serves as a testament to the beauty of artisanal processes, blending tradition with contemporary design.
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