Brazilian Artists Challenge Traditional Self-Portraiture from 1970s to Present
Since the 1970s, artists from Brazil have transformed the concept of self-portraiture by tackling political and social issues. Anna Bella Geiger examined the position of white, Latin American women during Brazil's civil-military dictatorship, while Cindy Sherman investigated cinematic stereotypes in the United States. Lenora de Barros confronted stereotypes through her physical form. Male artists, including Carlos Zilio and Mario Ishikawa, also critiqued subjects such as corporate futures and state oppression. The 1994 exhibition "Fotografia contaminada," curated by Tadeu Chiarelli, showcased both pioneers and contemporary figures like Rubens Mano, Nazareth Pacheco, and Rosana Paulino. Sidney Amaral's "Imolação" series represented a protest against injustices faced by Black men, with other artists like Gretta Sarfaty and Lia Chaia merging personal identity with societal concerns.
Key facts
- Anna Bella Geiger used self-portraiture in the 1970s to discuss women's position under Brazil's dictatorship.
- Cindy Sherman contemporaneously explored female stereotypes in American cinema.
- Brazilian artists Lenora de Barros, Carlos Zilio, and Gabriel Borba used their images for social and political critique in the 1970s.
- The 1994 exhibition "Fotografia contaminada" at Centro Cultural São Paulo curated by Tadeu Chiarelli featured artists challenging self-portraiture.
- Rosana Paulino's "Parede da memória" (1994) constructs Black female identity through ancestry, not physical body.
- Sidney Amaral's "Imolação" series uses his image to symbolize revolt against injustice for Black men in Brazil.
- Artists from the 1990s to present, like Felipe Cama, use selfies to comment on lost individuality.
- The critical tradition includes many artists like Gretta Sarfaty, Alex Flemming, and Renata Felinto.
Entities
Artists
- Anna Bella Geiger
- Cindy Sherman
- Lenora de Barros
- Carlos Zilio
- Gabriel Borba
- Gastão de Magalhães
- Mario Ishikawa
- Militão Azevedo
- Valério Vieira
- Rubens Mano
- Nazareth Pacheco
- Rosana Paulino
- Geraldo de Barros
- Iole de Freitas
- Rochelle Costi
- Márcia Xavier
- Gustavo Rezende
- Albano Afonso
- Sofia Borges
- Nino Cais
- Felipe Cama
- Sidney Amaral
- Gretta Sarfaty
- Alex Flemming
- Hudinilson Jr.
- Amilcar Packer
- Lia Chaia
- Junior Sucy
- Moisés Patrício
- Renata Felinto
- Tadeu Chiarelli
Institutions
- Centro Cultural São Paulo
- MAC-USP
- MAM-SP
- Pinacoteca de São Paulo
- ARTE!Brasileiros
Locations
- Brazil
- United States
- São Paulo
- Rio de Janeiro