Miguel Rio Branco's 'Palavras Cruzadas' at Instituto Moreira Salles

Miguel Rio Branco presents 'Palavras Cruzadas' at Instituto Moreira Salles in São Paulo, a non-orthodox retrospective curated by the artist and Thyago Nogueira. The exhibition, originally scheduled for April, faced adaptations due to COVID-19, including a designated circulation route, scheduled visits, and limited room capacity. It features what Rio Branco calls his 'new old things,' blending photography, painting, and installations. The show explores urban contradictions and violence, drawing from his experiences in cities like New York, where he studied at the School of Visual Arts in 1970. Curator Luisa Duarte notes his focus on marginal populations and ground-level scenes over postcard landmarks. Nogueira highlights Rio Branco's shift from 35mm to 6x6 film, leading to more composed, nearly abstract images. The exhibition includes large monochromatic panels, with color used to connect to pain or pleasure. Rio Branco emphasizes contemplation, viewing exhibitions as individual acts. The pandemic impacted printed materials and photobook sales, a concern given his dedication to photobooks as separate works. The catalog includes slides surviving a 1980s fire that damaged his archive.