Eva de Souza's First Institutional Solo Show Opens at Stadtgalerie Bern
The Stadtgalerie Bern is showcasing 'tecidos que curam,' the inaugural solo exhibition of Brazilian Swiss artist Eva de Souza, who resides in both Salvador, Brazil, and Bern. Translated as 'healing fabrics,' the title reflects themes of social structures and the essence of textiles. The exhibit occupies three distinct areas, exploring themes of protest, self-healing, and reflection. The initial area confronts human rights abuses with the embroidery 'Zamambaia,' illustrating a Black woman amidst police presence. Smaller pieces, 'Vidas Desperdiçadas 1' and '2,' honor Cláudia Ferreira da Silva in response to police brutality. The 'Manifesto Jacket' (2022) features phrases like 'Black Lives Matter.' The second area emphasizes healing and participation, while the last showcases rust-dyed fabrics, promoting artistic autonomy. A trigger warning addresses the subject of racist police violence.
Key facts
- Eva de Souza's first institutional solo exhibition 'tecidos que curam' is at Stadtgalerie Bern.
- The exhibition title translates from Portuguese as 'healing fabrics' or 'fabrics that heal'.
- The artist lives and works in Salvador, Brazil, and Bern.
- The first space features 'Zamambaia', a large-scale embroidery of a Black woman surrounded by police officers.
- 'Vidas Desperdiçadas 2' commemorates Cláudia Ferreira da Silva, killed in Rio de Janeiro in 2014.
- 'Manifesto Jacket' (2022) includes 'Black Lives Matter' slogans and names of victims, including Roger Nzoy Wilhelm, shot in Morges, Switzerland, in 2021.
- The second space includes 'Cartografia Afetiva' (2023/26–), an ongoing participatory embroidery work.
- 'O Batismo' (2025) is a textile self-portrait addressing colonialism, migration, and religious salvation.
Entities
Artists
- Eva de Souza
- Cláudia Ferreira da Silva
- Roger Nzoy Wilhelm
Institutions
- Stadtgalerie Bern
Locations
- Bern
- Switzerland
- Salvador
- Brazil
- Rio de Janeiro
- Morges
- Bahia
- Germany