Tropicália off the streets

Last Wednesday I had to present my project to the teachers and a curator who does loads of contemporary shows here in London. After my presentation, they changed it 180 degrees in concept while keeping some of the works I suggested. I'm not to pleased with that, but it should be interesting to do anyway. We have to curate or organize an art exhibit, from start to finish, expect for actually putting on the show physically.

For all interested, my initial ideas sort of stemmed from the whole High-street art thing, although I'm having second thoughts about that whole concept.

I wanted to do an exhibit on accessible art, both in form as in ideas. This would include forms of art that are easily and less expensively distributed like print, multiples, film and conceptual art, however they also had to be simple to understand and "get" to therefore be accessible in communication of ideas as well.

Some people might call this conceptual accessibility low-brow art. It's stuff you don't have to think too hard about to understand and for it to move you in some way. But, sometimes simple ideas can lead to more complex ones and that would be a by-product of the show.

So, by looking at what was going on today, I arrived at: Tropicália off the Streets.
Tropicália, being the Brazilian movement started by Helio Oiticica which attempted to realign what was understood as "Brazilian" culture in the 1960's. You can look it up, but what I understand of it is that the idea was to integrate aspects of other cultures into our art, be it music or art, and accept it. Tropicália was about bread and circuses, art for the people, from the favelas and for the favelas. It was art that was supposed to be experienced, not just thought about. Simplicity of ideas, of materials and of cultural icons.

Street art is somewhat related to that. Street art is supposed to be temporary, easily understandable, devouring icons and images from all cultures. It comes from an inner-city existential crisis: the need to say I was here (tagging), or to protest or supports something, or in some cases just to escape. However I wanted to use street artists that have moved on to the gallery because I think its important that I use only those who view what they do as art.

So here are some of the artists I was thinking of using:

Os Gêmeos



Os Gêmeos.
O pescador de illusões
2005
60X45X3 inches

A duo from São Paulo, they started graffiti as a means if escape from urban hell. Their work tells simple but magic realism-like stories which are easy to understand. Its about dreams and legends and folk tales.
Their Cavaleiro Marginal (which has been translated into English as both Outsider Cowboy as well as Marginal Knight) certainly reminded me of "Seja Bandido, Seja Heroi!"



Os Gêmeos Hélio Oiticica
Cavaleiro Marginal Seja Marginal, seja herói
2005 1965


Who are these outsiders or marginalized criminals? Are they the elusive bons sauvages? Or are we making heroes of those excluded? The Tropicália aspect of street art is something to be studied. Don't know if I'm the person to do it, though! hehehe.

ANyway, another artists whose style and line I love is Swoon.















She has this great wood-block print graphical style. In galleries now she's doing stuff in cut-out paper and seems to have more of a political message.

ANyway, as this project goes on, I'll show you guys more.

Miss you everyone! Come visit me!