Konjunto ( con·jun·to )

a word borrowed from Portuguese (with a small spelling alteration)

is all about connecting, grouping and joining together. In maths, a conjunto, or set, is the mathematical model for a collection of different things; a set containing elements or members, which can be objects of any kind: numbers, symbols, points in space, lines, other geometrical shapes... And so, Konjunto gives the name to the work developed and created by partners, David and Esther in their studio in Porto.

Through their joint creative practice, their individual training and professional experiences bring two unconnected worlds together in a combination which explores the relationships between art / design /industry / craft and environment.

David graduated in Fine Art (B.A. Cardiff 1997) followed by further studies at the Prince's School of Traditional Arts, London (M.A. 2004) which introduced him to Islamic Art and to the hand drawn construction of complex geometric patterns. During his time there, he ran several geometry workshops in Nigeria working with local crafts people, as well as in the Middle East and London. You can discover more about how Davids constructs each pattern, Axis, Nexus and Orbis here.

Esther, grew up in a tailoring family and spent many a Saturday in her fathers' alterations workroom surrounded by scraps of material. After graduating in History of Art she later trained in Shoemaking in Northamptonshire UK, which initiated an affinity for working with leather and her career working in the footwear industry.

With a deep knowledge and appreciation of their raw materials, and an eye for balancing different elements, David and Esther dig deep into an often unpredictable selection of leather with various finishes, irregularities, weights and colours. Transforming these leftovers and excess stock into distinctive and varied art and design wall pieces. Pieces whose aesthetic is not strictly pre-determined, whose story is one of construction, adaptation and renewal.

Konjunto invite you to join us on a journey that honors the past and shapes a more sustainable and interconnected future.

Porto 2024