A Giant by Thine Own Nature

Brazil’s present situation is the setting that we have chosen as the concept for the exhibition A Giant by Thine Own Nature, a title taken from the country’s national anthem, which clearly and succinctly expresses two of Brazil’s enormous strengths: its extraordinary physical size and the powerful presence of nature in every order of everyday life. Brazil is the central focus that serves to show the thoughts, impressions, feelings and vibrations that artists who are Brazilian or have lived in Brazil have about this country. The works that interpret these emotions cover a period that ranges from the 1940s to the present day. This country and its artists have striven for a long time to achieve self-recognition, to distinguish their work from art produced by other countries, to show a singular, autochthonous, differential character of their own. The linking theme that the exhibition follows is a clearly identifying element common to all Brazilian culture: rhythm. A cannibalistic rhythm that inundates, impregnates and phagocytes everything, a rhythm present in every event in the daily life of the people of Brazil. The artists appearing in this exhibition are: Andrea Brown, Adriana Varejão, Adrianna Eu, Alair Gomes, Alberto da Veiga Guignard, Alexandre Siqueira, Alfredo Volpi, Ana Miguel, Anna Maria Maiolino, Armando Queiroz, Arthur Bispo do Rosário, Artur Barrio, Ascânio MMM, Barrão, Beatriz Milhazes, Cabelo, Caio Reisewitz, Cao Guimarães, Carlos Vergara, Cildo Meireles, Delson Uchôa, Elisa Castro, Ernesto Neto, Hélio Oiticica, Ivens Machado, Joaquim Paiva, José Medeiros, Katie van Scherpenberg, Laura Lima, Lucia Laguna, Lula Wanderley, Lygia Clark, Marcos Chaves, Marepe, Maria Leontina, Maria Nepomuceno, Nelson Félix, Niura Bellavinha, Os Gêmeos, Pedro Varela, Raul Mourão, Renata Lucas, Rivane Neuenschwander, Roberto Evangelista, Rochelle Costi, Sandra Cinto, Tunga, Vik Muniz, Walmor Corrêa, Walter Carvalho and Wanda Pimentel.