Athos and Lelé

Works from the partnership between Athos Bulcão and João Filgueiras Lima.

Friends and collaborators, Athos Bulcão (1918-2008) and João Filgueiras Lima (1932-2014), known as Lelé, developed over the years as artists and architects a fruitful partnership in which art is fully integrated into architecture.

Roberto, Athos e João Filgueiras Lima, 1998, From the collection of: Fundação Athos Bulcão
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Painel de azulejos, residência particular, Brasília - DF (1971) by Athos BulcãoFundação Athos Bulcão

Lelé

João Filgueiras Lima, also known as Lelé, was a Brazilian architect whose work was characterized by a search for rationalization and industrialization of architecture. In his projects plastic expression has always been integrated with technological solutions.

Painel de azulejos, residência particular, Brasília - DF (1971) by Athos BulcãoFundação Athos Bulcão

Architecture

Integration occurs to the extent that the art proposed by Athos meets the requirements of the architectural project. And all of Athos' work reflects this interference... 

Relevo em concreto, Auditório Brasília, Dataprev, Brasília - DF (1972)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Mastery of color

"...In my case, during the 50 years I had the opportunity to work with him, I learned many things, including a mastery of color, innate in Athos." 

João Filgueiras Lima, Lelé

Painel de azulejos, Edifício Camargo Corrêa, Cobertura, SCS, Brasília - DF (1975)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Painel de azulejos, Edifício Camargo Corrêa, Cobertura, SCS, Brasília - DF (1975)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Estudo da cor dos brises em fibra de vidro pintados na cor laranja, Edifício Morro Vermelho, SCS, Brasília - DF (1975)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Blinds

On the facades of the Camargo Correia and Morro Vermelho buildings, in Brasília's Southern Commercial Sector, Athos Bulcão was responsible for a study of the colors of the blinds.

Works in Salvador:

Intervenção em madeira, vidro colorido e ferro, Igreja da Ascensão do Senhor, Salvador - BA (1975)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Projects all over Brazil

Most of Lelé's works can be found in Brasilia and the northeast region of the country...

Studies Study for stained glass. Holy Cross of Alagados Church, Salvador - BA. Architect: João Filgueiras Lima (1982) by Athos BulcãoFundação Athos Bulcão

Janela em vidro colorido e ferro, Igreja Santa Cruz dos Alagados, Salvador - BA (1980)Fundação Athos Bulcão

... especially Salvador, where Athos created works of art for various buildings, such as the stained glass windows for two churches designed by the architect and the tile panels for a bus terminal.

Painel de azulejos, Estação de Transbordo da Lapa, Salvador - BA (1981)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Rede SARAH

Muro vazado, argamassa armada, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Asa Sul, Brasília - DF (1989)Fundação Athos Bulcão

SARAH Network

The SARAH Network of Hospitals, created in Brasilia, is a network of Brazilian hospital units dedicated to the rehabilitation of victims of multiple traumas and locomotor problems.

Painel de azulejos, Espera Radiologia e jardim, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Asa Sul, Brasília - DF (1981)Fundação Athos Bulcão

National partnership

Lelé was responsible for the design and construction of new hospital units, such as the headquarters at Lago Norte, in Brasilia, and in cities such as São Luis, Salvador, Belo Horizonte and Fortaleza, always in partnership with Athos.

Painel de azulejos, Espera Radiologia e jardim, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Asa Sul, Brasília - DF (1981)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Industrial language

E These projects have a constant integration by Athos in the doors, in repetitive elements, that is, the art of Athos is also incorporated in industrial language, hence the amount of repetition. Athos tiles follow this same production line. "


Lelé

Divisória, treliça de ferro pintado, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, salvador - BA (1993)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Construction technology

"If the network's first hospital, built in Brasilia, is already a jewel of Brazilian architecture, with a design by Glauco Campello, its expansion is, in the projects by João Filgueiras Lima, a complete program of construction technology... "

Painel de azulejos, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, São Luís – MA (1985)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Form & Art

...Highly specialized coupled with modern form and art, even extending to hospital equipment design.”

Paulo Sérgio Duarte    

Studies Study for partition in painted Wood. Sarah Network of Rehabilitation Hospitals, Brasília - DF. Architect: João Filgueiras Lima (1967) by Athos BulcãoFundação Athos Bulcão

Painel de azulejos, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, São Luís – MA (1985)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Painel em madeira pintada, Creche, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Lago Norte, Brasília - DF (1999)Fundação Athos Bulcão

“Mafuá”, relevos em madeira pintada, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Asa Sul, Brasília - DF (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Curious reliefs

"Although playfulness marks many of Athos Bulcão's works, it is in the Rede Sarah that this characteristic found room to expand and multiply. From the amusements of his childhood and curious animals in nature, the artist draws inspiration for his many "puzzles" ...”

“Mafuá”, relevos em madeira pintada, Rede Sarah Brasília, Brasília - DF (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Squids and Mafunas

“ ... And from the harmonious combination of form and colour emerge the Squids, the Mafunas and many other reliefs, sometimes more serious, sometimes more visually provocative". 
 
Neusa Cavalcante

Squid (1999) by Athos BulcãoFundação Athos Bulcão

Collective attention

"It's also very gratifying to know that this is a hospital, a school. It's nice to work on public bulidings.... "

“Lula”, relevo, madeira pintada, Rede Sarah de Hospitais de Reabilitação, Asa Sul, Brasília - DF (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Playfulness and affection

"...At the Rede Sarah, I had some creatures placed along the halls that were made with children in mind. Children stay there for months. When they pass by to sunbathe, they see something light, they like it, it creates an affective relationship. It's very good.”

Athos Bulcão

Court of Auditors

Relevo em concreto, jardim de ambientação, Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Sergipe, Aracaju - SE (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

The sinuosity of the buildings

During the second half of the 1990s, Athos and Lelé worked on another major project in partnership, the construction of the headquarters of several State Audit Courts.

Relevo em concreto, jardim de ambientação, Tribunal de Contas do Estado de Mato Grosso, Cuiabá - MT (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Art and architecture integration

This time the relief is the main support used in the integration, with acoustic function and a dialogue with the sinuosity of the architect's buildings.

Relevo, jardim de habitação, Tribunal de Contas do Estado do Piauí, Teresina – PI (1998)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Working together

Lelé's relationship with Athos Bulcão does not take place within the context of the convention, according to which the architect realizes, builds his work, so that later the visual artist puts his frosting on the cake... "

Relevo com função acústica, auditório, Tribunal de Contas do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal - RN (1997)Fundação Athos Bulcão

Interference

“ ... As Lelé said recently: "Athos has been my partner in almost every project. His work was never just complimentary. That’s why his work has always interfered with the architecture.”


Agnaldo Farias

Credits: Story

Fundação Athos Bulcão
Selection of excerpts and images: Vitor Borysow

Quotes: 
E Excerpts from articles and interviews in the book Athos Bulcão. ed. 2. Editora Fundação Athos Bulcão. Brasília. 2009

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.
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