Ismael David's 'Na cabaça estão todas as mirongas' at Galpão Bela Maré

Ismael David's first solo exhibition, 'Na cabaça estão todas as mirongas', is on view at Galpão Bela Maré in Rio de Janeiro's Maré favela complex. The show is grounded in the Afro-Brazilian concept of the crossroads (encruzilhada) associated with the orixá Exu, challenging sensory hierarchies by prioritizing touch, sound, smell, and taste over sight. Works incorporate gourds, drums, funk beats, and materials like polypropylene rope and tereré beads. Curated by Ana V, the exhibition engages the local child audience, with pieces such as 'Doçura ibejada' (2024) offering candy and 'Iya Mi, a grande rede' (2024) inviting rest. 'Ruídos 2: Mukumbu' (2024) blends drum sounds with funk rhythms from within alguidares (Candomblé offering bowls), referencing the etymology of macumba. The performance 'Lá vem o Senhor e a Senhora' (2024) draws on the Yoruba myth of Exu choosing between good and evil gourds, mixing them into a third gourd. Performers wear mirrored masks and black robes striped with sacred chalk, created with Patricia David. David (born 1988, Madureira, Rio de Janeiro) is a visual artist and teacher who studied at UERJ and Parque Lage. The exhibition runs through 2025.