The craft of panel beating becomes the bridge between industry and art, transforming a manufactured product into 12 unique pieces.
During the València Design Fest and the Feria Hábitat València, the Valencian studio MUT Design, founded by Alberto Sánchez and Eduardo Villalón, presented the exhibition Entre lo frágil y lo robusto (Between the Fragile and the Robust), celebrating the intersection of design and art with CANTO Art Edition, organised by Manera Magazine.
The exhibition, which moves between the experimental and the personal, goes beyond being a simple product display.
At the MUT Design studio, located in the El Carmen neighbourhood, visitors are immersed in an environment where design comes to life in an installation that, true to its title, connects the fragility of glass with the robustness of the sculptural Canto family. Cracked car windows serve as pedestals, simultaneously simulating a dreamlike impact of the modules on the glass. It’s undoubtedly a powerful visual narrative that multiplies in shadows and reflections.
In addition to the work created specifically for the exhibition, MUT has artistically intervened the tables, applying the panel-beating technique colloquially known as Chapa y Pintura (Bodywork and Paint). This highly manual process is inspired by Alberto and Eduardo’s memories of visiting the Villalón family workshop. The technique creates a psychedelic finish by revealing various layers of paint and different industrial textures. Each piece is handcrafted by the artists, making it one of a kind.
CANTO Art Edition is not just a display of technical innovation; it is also an emotional statement. Design can be profoundly personal, a voluntary act that transcends functionality, connecting the industrial with the emotional and the past with the present. The personal experiences of Eduardo and Alberto infuse each table, making every piece an exclusive creation.
For Sancal, it’s a compelling way to break the mold once again, inviting the public to reconsider the limits of design by connecting it with art and a craft that seemingly has little to do with artistry.
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The collaboration between the studio, Sancal, and Manera magazine adds a special touch to this exhibition, creating a platform where design, art, and emotion converge. With Sancal championing “Made in Spain” design since 1973 and Manera amplifying contemporary creation.
CANTO, inspired by the shapes of stones quarried from a mine, is a modular system of seating and tables that forms part of Sancal’s product catalogue.
Special thanks to Enric Pastor and the Manera Magazine team.
Images by Oleh Kardash.
