León Ferrari's Turbulent Beauty: Political Abstraction and Exile in Brazil
León Ferrari, who began merging poetry with political themes in his artwork in 1954, challenged established Western norms and power dynamics. His notable 1965 creation, 'La Civilización Occidental y Cristiana,' depicts a Christ figure crucified on an American bomber. Following this, he left traditional art and went into exile in Brazil in 1975, only to return in 1991. While in São Paulo, he engaged with avant-garde artists and resumed his artistic pursuits, producing welded sculptures and abstract instruments known as 'Berimbau.' His work often critiques sacred texts and Western civilization, as seen in 'A Arca de Noé,' which offers an alternative take on the flood story. Ferrari was awarded the Golden Lion at the Venice Biennale in 2007, and his legacy is honored in prominent museums and collections.
Key facts
- León Ferrari's career began in 1954, uniting poetry and politics.
- His abstract drawings conceal critical texts questioning Western canons and power.
- The seminal 1965 work 'La Civilización Occidental y Cristiana' depicts Christ on a bomber.
- Ferrari exiled to Brazil from 1975 to 1991 with his wife Alicia.
- In São Paulo, he collaborated with artists like Regina Silveira and Julio Plaza.
- He returned to sculpture and explored sacred texts, continuing earlier critiques.
- His work 'A Arca de Noé' presents a feminist revision of the flood myth.
- Ferrari received the Golden Lion at the 2007 Venice Biennale.
Entities
Artists
- León Ferrari
- Alicia Ferrari
- Regina Silveira
- Julio Plaza
- Carmela Gross
- Alex Fleming
- Marcelo Nietsche
- Hudinilson
Institutions
- Venice Biennale
Locations
- Buenos Aires
- Argentina
- São Paulo
- Brazil