Júlio Villani Presents Large-Scale Embroidered Work at Capela do Morumbi

Júlio Villani unveils the monumental embroidery 'Paraíso (aqui se borda aqui se paga)' at the historic Capela do Morumbi in São Paulo. The 1520 x 520 cm piece, referencing poet Manoel de Barros, was completed over two months in Lina Bo Bardi's atelier at Casa de Vidro. Seamstresses from Paraisópolis, introduced through the social enterprise Costurando Sonhos, executed the work. Curated by Roberta Saraiva, the project's pre-production involved students from Centro Universitário Belas Artes. From October 14 to November 4, an educational program enables visits between the Chapel and Casa de Vidro. Villani describes the work as a 'quintal bordado' (embroidered backyard) of leaves and worms, reflecting a continuous creative process rather than an inflection point. He cites influences from Mestre Valentim to his own childhood toy-making, rejecting intentional dialogue with art history in favor of lived experience amalgamation. The technique originated from a 2019 site-specific installation at the Abadia du Thoronet in France, invited by curator Jean de Loisy, where a giant sheet covered a monks' dormitory. For the Brazilian context, Villani shifted focus from eternity to concrete life, weaving diverse realities. The work incorporates appropriated texts as poetic traps and echoes visual affinities with Arthur Bispo do Rosário, Hélio Oiticica, and Lygia Pape.