Moquém_Surarî: contemporary indigenous art

The Makuxi elders tell us that, in ancient times, Surarî' was abandoned in the bush by a hunter. When he missed him, Surarî' became a person and decided to climb to the skies in search of his owner. For that, he asked for help to a small hawk that carried him on its back. When he arrived there, Surarî' was transformed again, taking on the body of a star. He became responsible for bringing the rains and reminding us that, after the time of drought, there will be another possible time, that of water.

Surarî' is the Makuxi word for moquém, a jirau used to dehydrate and smoke meat. The technique of grinding, a way of preserving food and facilitating its transportation from hunting and fishing grounds to the villages, is a good way of thinking about the transit of provisions and knowledge that cross not only different spaces, but also different worlds. It is transits like these that constitute the movements of contemporary indigenous art. The rain provoked by Surarî' is a way to conceive the doings of indigenous artists as a vehicle between different temporalities and a way to produce and update relations.

Moquém_Surarî: contemporary indigenous art presents works by 34 indigenous artists that embody transformations, visual translations of their cosmologies and narratives, making present the temporal depth that underlies their practices. The works attest that the time of contemporary indigenous art is not hostage to the past. Ancestry is mobilized in the now, reconfiguring enunciative positions and power relations to produce other forms of encounter between worlds not based on colonial extractivisms.

Text in Guarani

Nhanerentarã mboe tuja kue'i Makuxi omombe'u, ymã guare, Surari ́manje hejaa ráka'e ka'aguyre peteĩ ika'aguy va'egui. Há'e oexa nga'u vyma hera reré vy, Surari ́onhembo jera nhande ramivy ojeupi yvare oja rakygue. Há'e ramia guã ma, oikontevẽ raka'e guyraũ re vy há'e ogueraa raka'e okupere. Há'epy ovaẽ ramo, Surari ́ onhembojera jevy, há'e ojeapo ovyvyma Jaxy tatá rami. ojeapó opyta oky reruarã há'e ndaexarai,ary piru,há'egui oiko ju va'erã ary ,yy.

Surarî há'e Makuxi ayvu py omoẽ nonde moquém, monhimbe'i omo mbirú aguã xo'ó. Ojapo kuaa nhimbe'i marã tembi'u ivaipa he 'y aguã há'e okueraa porã ve aguã oikoagui ogueraa xo'ó pira ro'ó tekoapy, kova'ema ĩporã nhemongueta marupipá nhemoĩ porã ta arandu jeyvaxa oiny ramo mamo mamoguipá jeupity há'e Joagui he'ỹ yvyrupa -marupipá jereraa ta nhande kuery ojapo mba'emo ãy guigua nhande kuery gui. Okyma ojejorá Surari'guima vy oexauka marupipá nhetyrô heravy vyma nhande kuery Imbavyky heravy ma mba'eyru aygui guara rami jereraa heravyma opyta ha ́e virami oin

Moquém Surari`: nhande mbavyky ma aygui gua peteĩ rã oĩ mba'eapó 34 imbavyky va'e nhande kuery omo in nhembojerá, jaexa vy ryve jaikuaa heravya guã jexaka gueroayvu, há'e omboete nhembojaru pygua he'y ãy guigua teim jeapo riae, nhembavykyma ije araguyjere hare nhande kuery ãy guigua onhemboty uká ymãre'ȳ ymã guare ma mombyta ãy varã, omoim heravyma ombojekó peteĩ hendapy mba'e kuaa omombe'u peteĩ rupi aguã vyma nhevain tĩ koo yvy javeré nonhe moingoi onhembojeká yvy mboae guigua kuery gui.

Jaider Esbell curator
Paula Berbert assistant curator
Pedro de Niemeyer Cesarino consultant

 

The exhibition is a co-organization between MAM and Fundação Bienal de São Paulo and is part of the network of partnerships of the 34th Bienal.

 

About the curator

Born in the region now demarcated as the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Territory, Jaider Esbell is among the central figures of the movement to consolidate contemporary indigenous art in Brazil and operates in a multiple and interdisciplinary manner, performing the roles of artist, curator, writer, educator, activist, promoter and cultural catalyst.

Programming

In addition to the exhibition at MAM's headquarters, the show will feature a series of unpublished video testimonials by seven artists from Roraima, which will be released throughout the exhibition period on the museum's digital channels, as well as extensive educational programming, which will include workshops and lives with the artists on topics such as art and shamanism, indigenous peoples and the history of art in Brazil and the strength of indigenous women in the arts.

Catalogue

Near the close of the exhibition, a catalogue will be launched, bringing together critical texts and artists' essays.

Full list of artists

Ailton Krenak | Amazoner Arawak | Antonio Brasil Marubo | Arissana Pataxó | Armando Mariano Marubo | Bartô | Bernaldina José Pedro | Bu'ú Kennedy | Carlos Papá | Carmézia Emiliano | Charles Gabriel | Daiara Tukano | Dalzira Xakriabá | Davi Kopenawa | Denilson Baniwa | Diogo Lima | Elisclésio Makuxi | Fanor Xirixana | Gustavo Caboco | Isael Maxakali | Isaiais Miliano | Jaider Flores Taurep | Joseca Yanomami | Luiz Mathews | Xirixana | Gustavo Caboco | Isael Maxakali | Isaiais Miliano | Jaider Esbell | Joseca Yanomami | Luiz Matheus | MAHKU | Mario Flores Taurepang | Nei Leite Xakriabá | Paulino Joaquim Marubo | Rita Sales Huni Kuin | Rivaldo Tapyrapé | Sueli Maxakali | Vernon Foster | Yaka Huni Kuin | Yermollay Caripoune

 

Service

Moquém_Surarî: contemporary indigenous art
Place: Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo
Curator: Jaider Esbell
Curatorial assistance: Paula Berbert
Consulting: Pedro Cesarino
Exhibition period: September 4 to November 28
Address: Parque Ibirapuera (av. Pedro Álvares Cabral, s/nº - gates 1 and 3)
Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, from 10am to 6pm (last entry at 5:30pm)
Telephone: (11) 5085-1300
Admission: Free admission, with suggested contribution. Advance booking required.