Arnaldo Antunes presents visual arts and poetry in new exhibition

The singer and songwriter Arnaldo Antunes presents the exhibition Drafts at the Institute of Contemporary Art-IAC from September 14th.

The original writings of Antunes become the starting point for the exhibition, which engages with the IAC material.

Arnaldo is a clear example of a group of visual artists and poets (which also included musicians and composers), who produced a set of works resulting from the encounter of languages ​​(poem, music, literature, design) that occurred from the 1950s onwards”, says the curator. Daniel Rangelwho has already worked with the musician on four other occasions.

The unpublished works are mostly done using the written painting technique, using paper as the main medium, with some of them being finalized using a computer. The selection of the IAC “drafts” was guided by similarity, whether visual, rhythmic, or by “modus operandi”.

The exhibition is part of the project Contemporary Dialogues – IAC Collectionwhich proposes the meeting of artistic processes. The exhibition is produced by the Institute of Contemporary Art. The educational program is supported by the Galo da Manhã Institute. The IAC activities are supported by the Federal Law of Incentive to Culture of the Ministry of Culture, Federal Government.

About Arnaldo Antunes

Arnaldo Antunes is a multifaceted artist, whose work encompasses diverse forms of expression, from music and poetry to visual arts.

Born on September 2, 1960, Antunes grew up in a culturally turbulent environment, marked by the military coup of 1964, the countercultural movement and the emergence of tropicalism. These elements profoundly influenced his artistic and intellectual trajectory.

Although he began his academic training in Literature at the University of São Paulo, Antunes did not complete the course, choosing to follow a different path, which would lead him to stardom as a member of the band Titansin 1984. It was in this context that he became a prominent figure in Brazilian music.

In 1992, Antunes decided to pursue a solo career, exploring new artistic possibilities and forming successful partnerships, such as the one that resulted in the group Tribalistsnext to Marisa Monte and Carlinhos Brown.

Music is just one facet of Antunes. As a poet and visual artist, he developed his own language, deeply influenced by the São Paulo concretism of the 1950s. His poetry is marked by a technique that combines words, sound and images, in order to create a complete sensory experience.

“All the things in the world do not fit into an idea. But everything fits into a word”, he says. Antunesreflecting his approach to poetry, which transcends literal meaning and transforms into form, rhythm and concept.

Even with decades of career, Arnaldo Antunes continues to reinvent itself. In 2023, it participated in the world tour Titans Meetcelebrating the band’s 40th anniversary, and in 2021 published their most recent book, Something Old. His frequent production, both in music and in literature and visual arts, confirms his position as one of the most important figures in contemporary Brazilian culture.

Drafts – Arnaldo Antunes
Opening: 09/14/24 (Saturday), 11am to 4pm
Visiting: 09/17 to 12/07/2024
Location: Institute of Contemporary Art-IAC (Avenida Dr. Arnaldo, 120/126, São Paulo)
Visiting hours: Tuesday to Friday, 11am to 5pm, and Saturdays and holidays, 11am to 4pm
Free entry