Art Talk: Exploring Brazil through Artistic Lens

Published in Pakistan Observer

Sana Jamal 

ISLAMABAD - It was a surprising moment for a large number of Pakistani art lovers who explored Brazil as a culturally vibrant country and not just as home to great football players. This disclosure was made in a fascinating slideshow lecture “The Art Scene of Brazil Today”, presented by the Brazilian art connoisseur and promoter, Roberto Padilla, who is on his first visit to Pakistan. 

Brazil came into sight as an art-influenced society at the art talk, as every succeeding image on the slideshow signified the cultural exuberance of the country reflected in its contemporary art scene and modern architecture. 
“Vibrant works of art by Brazilian artists reflecting nature with plenty of colours and light also remind of the colours of Pakistan” remarked Roberto Padilla at one instance. Padilla let the audience glimpse some of the significant artworks by prominent Brazilian artists including Angelo Venosa, Walter Goldfarb, Hilal Sami, Beatriz Milhazes, Ernesto Neto, Ligia Clark, Tomie Ohtake.

However the artwork that inspired most was a series of monumental photographic portraits made from garbage. Called “Pictures of Garbage,” they were created by Vik Muniz, an artist born into working-class family, who worked with the garbage pickers at an open-air dump to give them a new perspective on the world through art. 

To incorporate art in everyday life, few Brazilian artists have produced art to feel and to wear. Hélio Oiticica is famous for his series of wearable multi-coloured textile-creations called “Parangolés” that is related to activities of dance. Roberto Padilla, eminent art expert, is in Pakistan to present the broad panorama of the arts in Brazil. Since the last 25 years, Padilla has been promoting Brazilian artists and art exhibition in the most important museums and art institutions around the globe. Sharing some of the connections between Pakistan and Brazil, he recalled that the “cities of Brasilia and Islamabad were planned and designed to become capital in the same year in 1960.”

Discussing various aspects of the art scene of Brazil today, he enlightened that Sao Paulo has 111 museums which receive more than 5 million visitors per year. Contemporary art in Brazil evolved from Modernism and incorporated subsequent trends, focusing mainly on city life in early 21st century and displaying a huge diversity of styles accustomed with global artistic trends. Brazil’s spectacular modern architecture, designed by urbanist Lúcio Costa and architect Oscar Niemeyer, is one of the most potent expressions of its 20th century artistic confidence.

Brazilian Ambassador Alfredo Leoni, also present at the occasion, hoped that the artistic interaction would strengthen the increasing cultural ties between the two countries and foster future bilateral activities. The art talk, arranged at Kuch Khaas by the Embassy of Brazil, was part of the celebrations being held in the capital to mark Brazilian National Day. It was attended by artists, art lovers as well as embassy officials.