BRAZILIAN PRESENCE AT FRIEZE

Frieze week is always a great moment to see Brazilian art in New York and this year the fair offers a taste of nine art galleries from São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro: A Gentil Carioca, Baró, Casa Triângulo, Fortes Vilaça, Jaqueline Martins, Mendes Wood DM, Nara Roesler, Raquel Arnaud and Vermelho. They are showcasing a variety of artworks, from historical to contemporary, or “popular”, created by well known artists, as well as young talents. The fair runs until Monday, May 8^th, but those who do not plan to attend can check some highlights below.

Abraham Palatnik, the pioneer of Kinetic Art, is very well represented at he Section Spotlight. The first Brazilian to combine art and technology, Palatnik created abstract and geometric works that explore changes in light and movement.

Also at Spotlight is the sculptor Sérgio Camargo, with three-dimensional constructions of geometric shapes in white and black marble, including small-scale tabletop works and freestanding pieces.

The artist Débora Bolsoni is also flying solo at the Section Frame with an installation. It is a collection of sculptural works composed by utilitarian materials of ephemeral duration (mainly cardboards).

Adriana Varejão is another strong presence at the fair, with three round canvases resembling color wheels filled with skin tones. The works derive from the artist’s “Polvo” series, in which she studied miscegenation in Brazil.

The new series by artist Vik Muniz is a must see: it consists of five photo-collages that revisit the famous Monet studies of the Cathedral of Rouen. They are formed by images and icons from ancient history until present day mass culture.