‘Orpheu’ is the newest collection by Beni rugs designed by the Lisbon-based studio Garcé & Dimofski. Inspired by the poetic universe of Portuguese poet Fernando Pessoa and the vibrant energy of Portuguese architecture, ‘Orpheu‘ explores the blend of imagination and reality through eight striking, gestural designs.
Each rug captures a unique, Fauvist-inspired perspective on perception—an art movement known for its bold use of color and expressive brushstrokes, prioritizing emotion over realism. Like an abstract painting, Orpheu invites you to interpret the world in your own way—it’s all about what you see.
The little waves of Henri Matisse – Ondine
“Ondine, our favorite design from *Orpheu*,” says the studio, captures the essence of Henri Matisse’s signature wiggling line-work with a playful squiggle that dances along the rug’s edge. Like the soft, salty hum of the sea whispered inside a seashell, *Ondine* evokes a sense of dreamy fluidity, inspired by Matisse’s curving forms and the wave-like borders often seen in Portugal’s coastal azulejos.
This design, along with the other seven in the collection, speaks a language of flowing motion, blending art and nature in a seamless harmony. As Matisse once said, “A thimbleful of red is redder than a bucketful,” a sentiment that reflects the simplicity and balance that guide the studio’s approach. Olivier Garcé adds that their vision of interior design is more than aesthetics—it’s a poetry of space, felt through harmony and experienced through minimalist beauty.
Horizonte
As so eloquently articulated by the poet Fernando Pessoa, the earth opens in sound and color. Offering a vision of likeminded and saturated reality, Horizonte outlines the invisible forms of fantasy worlds.
Fado
A synthesis of music, poetry and place, Fado presents a labyrinthine of daisy chains that illustrate the winding paths of Fernando Pessoa’s meandering mind like flower beds gone rogue in manicured gardens.
Echo
In pieces like puzzles or broken pottery, memory cracks apart as time carries on. With Echo, a motif of kaleidoscopic remembrance serves as a map of forgotten dreams.
Solaris
On the brilliant absorption of nature, the French philosopher and author Albert Camus said that everything was futile but the sun, our kisses, and the wild scents of the earth. With Solaris, tribute is paid to these terrestrial themes of radiance through obtuse expressions of golden sunrays and Portuguese azulejos.
Luz
Luz, an abbreviation of Nossa Senhora Da luz or ‘Our Lady of Light,’ is a subtle symphony of perspective inspired by the dance of sunlight and shadow on Lisbon’s azulejos.
Cobalt
Marrying the sky and the sea, Cobalt captures the vibrant essence of blue from the ethereal charisma of the clouds to the hue’s historical significance in traditional Portuguese azulejos. Above pictured as a runner.
Vermelho
Recalling the rare hues of ancient Portuguese azulejos and the potent emotions of Fernando Pessoa’s poetry and prose, Vermelho contains multitudes of red.
Combining both knotted and flat woven wool, the complex construction of the collection calls for the hands of Beni’s master weavers.
Images and product description via Beni Rugs
Het bericht The little waves of Henri Matisse | Orpheu collection by Beni rugs verscheen eerst op vosgesparis.
