José Roberto Aguilar's 60-Year Retrospective 'Destinos' at Fiesp Explores Ancestral Cosmology and Environmental Activism
At Fiesp in São Paulo, José Roberto Aguilar showcases 'Destinos, o Homem Inventa o Homem,' marking 60 years in his artistic journey with 69 large paintings, many of which are being shown for the first time, under the curation of Haron Cohen. Aguilar views white canvases as cosmological landing zones, drawing inspiration from Greek philosophers, the French Revolution, and artists like Picasso and Van Gogh, as well as the city of São Paulo. An intervention planned for 2025 will address global political divisions, reminiscent of Picasso's Guernica. His commitment to environmental issues is evident in 'Rio Amazonas,' part of the 'Rios Voadores' series. Since 2004, he has divided his time between São Paulo and Alter do Chão, Pará, where his career began in the mid-1950s with notable exhibitions like 'Opinião 65' and performances such as 'Concerto para Luvas de Box e Piano.'
Key facts
- José Roberto Aguilar's exhibition 'Destinos, o Homem Inventa o Homem' is on view at Fiesp in São Paulo.
- The show features 69 large-scale paintings, with many being new works.
- Aguilar's cosmology references Greek philosophers, the French Revolution, Picasso, Van Gogh, and Bispo do Rosário.
- A 2025 painting intervention addresses global political bipolarity and war/peace dilemmas.
- The monumental work 'Rio Amazonas' reflects his environmental activism, related to the 'Rios Voadores' series.
- Since 2004, Aguilar has worked between São Paulo and Alter do Chão, Pará, engaging with the Amazon community.
- He participated in the seminal 1965 exhibition 'Opinião 65' with Hélio Oiticica and others.
- In 1980, he performed 'Concerto para Luvas de Box e Piano' at the Pinacoteca, starting the Banda Performática with Arnaldo Antunes.
Entities
Artists
- José Roberto Aguilar
- Picasso
- Van Gogh
- Bispo do Rosário
- Haron Cohen
- Jorge Mautner
- Mário Pedrosa
- Clarival do Prado Valladares
- Hélio Oiticica
- Rubens Gerchman
- Antonio Dias
- Carlos Vergara
- Caetano Veloso
- Gilberto Gil
- Mário Schenberg
- Haroldo de Campos
- Augusto de Campos
- Nuno Ramos
- Arnaldo Antunes
- Charles Bukowski
- Lucila Meirelles
Institutions
- Fiesp
- VII Bienal de São Paulo
- Opinião 65
- Pinacoteca do Estado
- Museu da Imagem e do Som
- IV Festival Videobrasil
- Banda Performática
- Casa Azul
- Art in America
- Journées interdisciplinaires sur l’art corporel et performances
- Beaubourg
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Alter do Chão
- Pará
- Amazon Basin
- London
- United Kingdom
- Germany
- Japan
- Paris
- France