The Diverse and Dynamic Landscape of Brazilian Modernism

# Exploring “Brasil! Brasil!”: The Birth of Modernism in Brazilian Art

**LONDON —** Brazilian Modernism is a rich and complex artistic movement that blends European influences with the diverse cultural landscapes of Brazil. A new exhibition at the Royal Academy of Arts (RA) in London, *Brasil! Brasil!: The Birth of Modernism*, delves into this artistic revolution, presenting over 130 works from major modernists like Tarsila do Amaral and Candido Portinari alongside lesser-known but equally exceptional artists.

## **The Diversity of Brazilian Modernism**

Many art lovers may recognize Tarsila do Amaral as the face of Brazilian Modernism, especially after her 2018 MoMA exhibition in New York. However, Brazilian Modernism is far more diverse than one artist’s vision. It was influenced by various European movements like Expressionism and Cubism while also deeply rooted in the country’s Indigenous, Afro-Brazilian, and folk traditions.

Curated by Fabienne Eggelhöfer, Roberta Saraiva Coutinho, and Adrian Locke, this exhibition showcases ten Brazilian artists—five of whom participated in the historic 1922 São Paulo Modern Art Week, the event that launched the movement. The other five artists represent voices from outside the traditionally elite art circles, providing a more complete picture of Brazilian modernist art.

## **Key Artists & Their Contributions**

### **Anita Malfatti: Expressionist Visionary**
Anita Malfatti was one of Brazil’s earliest avant-garde painters, known for her striking Expressionist portraits. However, her career trajectory was altered after a highly critical review by influential writer Monteiro Lobato. The exhibition highlights her 1915-16 pastel-and-charcoal piece *Man of Seven Colours*, a fusion of human and nature that exemplifies Brazilian Modernism’s fascination with local landscapes and forms.

### **Tarsila do Amaral & Social Commentary**
Best known for her bold colors and geometric compositions, Tarsila’s later works tackled Brazil’s socio-economic realities. One of the exhibition’s highlights is *Second Class* (1933), which depicts weary train passengers journeying from the impoverished northeastern regions to the metropolis. This shift in her work mirrors the growing concern of modernist artists with industrialization and social inequality.

### **Candido Portinari: The Migrant Experience**
Among the most poignant works on display is Candido Portinari’s *Migrants* (1944), which portrays skeletal figures wandering a barren landscape. Portinari’s paintings vividly capture the struggles of Brazil’s rural poor as they moved to cities in search of a better life.

## **Modernism Beyond the Elites**

The exhibition moves beyond the celebrated figures of Brazil’s elite art scene and highlights artists whose work was influenced by Indigenous and folk traditions:

### **Vicente do Rego Monteiro: Indigenous Geometries**
Monteiro’s *Indigenous Composition* series (1922) reveals how abstract forms existed in Brazil long before Modernism arrived. His work draws from intricate Indigenous patterns, demonstrating a uniquely Brazilian take on geometric abstraction.

### **Alfredo Volpi & Djanira da Motta e Silva: Celebrating Popular Art**
Volpi, a self-taught artist, created abstract compositions inspired by Brazil’s folk traditions, from colored façades to festive banners. Similarly, Djanira da Motta e Silva’s *Market Scene* (1960) captures social disparities through a scene of a Black Bahian woman isolated from a trio of white men.

## **A Glimpse into Brazilian Concrete Art**

The exhibition’s final section offers a glimpse into how Brazilian Modernism transitioned into Concrete Art. Rubem Valentim’s emblematic sculptures—such as *Emblematic Object 1* (1969)—combine geometric abstraction with Afro-Brazilian ritual symbols. Geraldo de Barros’s black-and-white photographs, on the other hand, transform urban landscapes into abstract compositions, hinting at a shift toward minimalism and conceptual art.

## **Why “Brasil! Brasil!” Matters**

*Brasil! Brasil!: The Birth of Modernism* is not just an exhibition; it is a journey through the complexities and contradictions of Brazilian modernist art. By highlighting alternative narratives and Indigenous, folk, and Afro-Brazilian influences, the RA offers a more inclusive and accurate portrayal of Modernism’s evolution in Brazil.

For those interested in a deeper dive into Modernism beyond its Eurocentric roots, this exhibition is a must-see. *Brasil! Brasil!* runs at the Royal Academy of Arts in London until **April 21, 2024**.

— *Written by [Your Name]*