Geometric Contradictions" exhibition

Antonio Bokel presents his new work at the Solar Art Gallery

The artist is exhibiting his work for the second time at the Gallery, this time in a solo show.

After a period of artistic residence in Portugal, Antonio Bokel presents his new exhibition "Geometric Contradictions", from February 24th to May 6th, at the Art Gallery Solar Meninos de Luz.

There are 14 works that speak of geometry beyond graffiti, walls and architectural elements from his observations of urban landscapes. The colour, line and supports used present various reflective possibilities, and offer the viewer the experience of contradictions.

One of the exponents of contemporary art in Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Bokel has works in the Museum of Modern Art (MAM-RJ) and the Rio Art Museum (MAR), and has taken his art to galleries and cultural centres in other cities in Brazil and abroad, such as BH, SP, Vitória (ES), Sintra (Portugal) and Miami (USA).

"I was very happy with the invitation from Solar Meninos de Luz. It is the second time I exhibit there, but it is my first solo exhibition. I think it is extremely important and responsible to expose an artwork in a gallery located in a school for children. Just thinking that this space exists makes me more optimistic about the future. Solar is a utopia in practice, a necessary space that should serve as an example to others. I am proud to be part of this history.

Curated by Isabel Sanson Portella, the exhibition will open to guests on 24 February, and will remain open to the general public from 25 February.

"Nothing escapes his attentive, urban gaze, seduced by the rational ideality of geometry. If the geometric is precise, regular and predictable why not seek harmony in asymmetric forms? It is about giving visibility to the whole: form and colour translating the freedom achieved by experience and intuition," says the curator.

The Solar Art Gallery is the first and only gallery - structured with curatorship and annual calendar of exhibitions - located in a community in Rio de Janeiro, and is sponsored by the City Hall of Rio de Janeiro, Municipal Secretariat of Culture, Sunset Vigilância and Sunplus, through the Municipal Law of Incentive to Culture (LEI DO ISS RJ). 

Special thanks to Maneco Quinderé e Associados for the lighting project.

It is open to the public of all ages and has free admission. All works are for sale with part of the proceeds going to Solar Meninos de Luz.

Service:

Geometric Contradictions"exhibition

Opening: 24 February 2022 (guests)

                  25 February 2022 (general public)

Closing date: 06 May 2022

Opening hours: Monday to Thursday, 9am to 5.30pm

                  Friday, from 9am to 1pm

Venue: Solar Art Gallery - Rua Saint Roman, 149 Copacabana - Rio de Janeiro - RJ

Free entry (mask mask required)

E-mail: solar@meninosdeluz.org.br

About Solar Meninos de Luz

Solar Meninos de Luz is a socio-educational project that offers full time education to 430 socially vulnerable children and adolescents in the communities of Pavão-Pavãozinho and Cantagalo, in the south zone of Rio de Janeiro. They start at three months of age and continue until they complete secondary school. There are 10 hours a day, serving three meals and offering more than 30 workshops, among dances (hip-hop, ballet, jazz, tap), arts (theatre), sports (capoeira and judo) and music (flute, violin, cello, choir, trumpet and others), including an orchestra formed by students and residents of these communities.

With 4,500m2 of built area, in the Solar we find: a theatre for 400 people, a multi-sports complex, a community library, an art gallery and a science laboratory among others.

In 30 years of operation, Solar has already transformed the reality of hundreds of young people by referring them to colleges and the job market. Gradually, it rewrites the history of these communities, through these young people who follow the new paths opened by a comprehensive quality education, and today serve as inspiration for new generations who see in them the greatest example that the dream of a better life can come true.

www.meninosdeluz.org.br

Artist bio:

Born in 1978, in Rio de Janeiro, Antonio Bokel graduated in graphic design from Univercidade in 2004. He held his first solo exhibition in 2003, at Ken's Art Gallery, in Florence, Italy, where he lived and took courses in photography and the history of art. In Rio de Janeiro, he had live model classes with Bandeira de Mello and took painting courses with João Magalhães and Luiz Ernesto at the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage. Over the last two decades, he has presented his work in Brazil and abroad.