Imagine Brazil
11.10.2013 – 02.03.2014
Press Release
07.10.2013
Press Conference at the
museum 10.10.2013 at
10.00 am.
The curators will present
the exhibition.
Astrup Fearnley Museet presents, Imagine Brazil, an exhibition of Brazilian contemporary art,
with a particular focus on the young, emerging art scene.
After extensive research, the curators have selected 14 young artists of international significance
who are important representatives of the vibrant emerging art scene in Brazil. In order to situate
their work in a historical context, each was asked to choose an older artist whom they consider
important for Brazilian contemporary art or for their own work, for presentation in an exhibition
within the exhibition.
The selected young artists are proposing new artistic languages in order to develop urgent
subject matter. They have dived into the multitude of possible media offered by conceptually
based works, including painting, sculpture, installation, photography, video and music, using a
variety of languages, complex research and experimentation with words, materials and
structures to embody their ideas. They also show a strong awareness of social engagement
and issues related to political and environmental problems, without ever neglecting the formal
aspects that give the work of art its visual impact and originality.
Participating artists: Arrigo Barnabé, J. Borges, Sofia Borges, Rodrigo Cass, Adriano Costa,
Jonathas de Andrade, Deyson Gilbert, Fernanda Gomes, Marcellvs L, Milton Machado, Montez
Magno, Cinthia Marcelle, Maria Martins, Thiago Martins de Melo, Rodrigo Matheus, Cildo
Meireles, Pedro Moraleida, Paulo Nazareth, Rivane Neuenschwander, Paulo Nimer Pjota, Sara
Ramo, Mayana Redin, Gustavo Speridião, Tunga, Adriana Varejão, Caetano Veloso and Carlos
Zilio.
Artist’s Books
As another exhibition within the exhibition, there is also a presentation of artist’s books – a
collaborative art form that has always played an important role in Brazil. Curators of this section
are Jacopo Crivelli Visconti and Ana Luiza Fonseca.
Participating artists: Marlon de Azambuja, Chiara Banfi, Artur Barrio, Debora Bolsoni, Waltercio
Caldas, Felipe Cohen, Marilá Dardot, DetanicoLain, Ana Luiza Dias Batista, Marcius Galan, João
Loureiro, Milton Marques, Lúcia Mindlin, Leya Mira Brander, Fabio Morais, Carlos Nunes,
Nicolás Robbio, Lucas Simões, Gustavo Speridião.
Catalogue
Each of the artists whose work is featured in the show is introduced by a text on their work.
However, since this selection of artists provides only a partial glimpse of Brazil’s rich and
complex artistic landscape, the catalogue attempts to present a fuller picture. The Brazilian art
scene is introduced by curator and art critic Kiki Mazzucchelli, who is based in London and
provide an outsider´s perspective of the art scene. In order to convey the many variable art
scenes across the country’s different regions, specific overviews of the cultural activities in the
cities of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, as well as Brazil’s five regions from north to south, east
to west, are presented in separate texts by seven different authors. The catalogue is designed
by Rune Døli.
Curators: Gunnar B. Kvaran, Director Astrup Fearnley Museet; Hans Ulrich Obrist, Co-Director
Serpentine Gallery and Thierry Raspail, Director Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon.
The exhibition is produced in collaboration with Musée d'art contemporain de Lyon.
Last day of exhibition: 02.03.2014
Press contact:
Gard Andreas Frantzsen, Head of Communications
Tel.: +47 22 93 60 43
E-mail: [email protected]
Astrup Fearnley Museet
Strandpromenaden 2, 0252 Oslo, Tel.: +47 22 93 60 60
[email protected] | www.afmuseet.no
Astrup Fearnley Museet is a private museum which is generously supported by the Foundation Thomas
Fearnley, Heddy and Nils Astrup, and Astrup Fearnley AS.
Associate partners: