Exhibition "News from Brazil: Carybé, Cícero Dias and Glauco Rodrigues

The Sesc RJ will reopen this Friday (28/1), at 17h, the Espaço Cultural Arte Sesc, located in the Mansão Figner, in the Flamengo neighborhood. The eclectic style mansion, which is located in front of the administrative headquarters of the institution, at rua Marquês de Abrantes 99, underwent structural reform, restoration and is now able to receive artistic exhibitions. The inaugural exhibition is "News from Brazil: Carybé, Cícero Dias and Glauco Rodrigues".

Curated by Marcelo Campos and Pollyana Quintella, the exhibition consists of 48 prints signed by these artists and belonging to the Sesc RJ collection. The purpose of the exhibition is to provoke reflection on the vision of identity that accompanied Brazilian modernism in the year that commemorates 100 years since the Week of Modern Art of 1922. In all of the works, says the curator, it is possible to perceive a Brazil with a strong popular tradition, in the parties, in the interethnic relations, in the tray sellers, in the windows and balconies of the colonial houses.

"Carybé, Cícero Dias and Glauco Rodrigues reported a Brazil through the gaps in the windows, in the public squares, in the street parties. And, in this way, they exposed ethnic-racial singularities, both in characters and in cultural facts that range from Afro-religious traditions, from popular Catholicism to prostitution. These artists understood that the country of the future was already being drawn by the upsides of history. Their heroes come from the people. Their affections are revealed through the windows, in the interiors of the houses. Their squares are full of informal businesses, acarajé vendors, in the buying and selling of fish", reflects Marcelo Campos.

OTHER CURATORIAL CLIPPINGS

The Sesc RJ collection has over one hundred works scattered throughout its units in the state. They will be catalogued, sanitised and stored in appropriate rooms at the Flamengo headquarters in order to allow for the continuity of research around the collection.

"To be able to dwell on the collection of works of art at Sesc RJ is to glimpse a collection that presents notable names in Brazilian art, mainly around engravings," points out curator Marcelo Campos, who is also responsible for creating curatorial clippings that will be taken forward from this first exhibition.

30-METRE MURAL BY MIGUEL AFA AND TRIO JULIO

Besides the exhibition "News from Brazil: Carybé, Cícero Dias and Glauco Rodrigues", the public will be able to contemplate, in the external area of the big house, a 30-metre mural by the young carioca artist Miguel Afa. In the work, he portrays the daily upbringing of his son by a black father.

"The relationship between parents and children, in Brazil, does not take place in such a regular and horizontal way. We are a country where unknown paternity rates are high. Miguel Afa, contrary to the statistics, portrays a father who welcomes, puts his son on his back, teaches him to play the guitar, to read and write," observes the curator.

To celebrate the opening of the space this Friday, Sesc will host, at 6pm, Trio Julio, a choro group formed by Magno Julio (pandeiro), Maycon Julio (mandolin) and Marlon Julio (7-string guitar). They present a repertoire with Brazilian music classics. The programme is free of charge, but public access will depend on the presentation of a vaccination passport and on the capacity of the venue, which is limited due to the pandemic.

MANSION WAS HOME TO THE PIONEER OF THE BRAZILIAN PHONOGRAPHIC INDUSTRY

Built in 1912, the mansion listed by the Rio Heritage Institute (IRPH) was home to Czech businessman Frederico Figner (1866-1947), a pioneer of the phonographic industry in Brazil. He was the founder of Casa Edison, which resold sound and light equipment such as phonographs, gramophones and kinetoscopes, and created Brazil's first music recording company, Odeon.

In addition to the exhibitions, the venue will feature educational activities for adults and children. The cultural space of Sesc RJ, which will also gain a bistro with a menu signed by chef Frédéric Monier, will operate from Monday to Saturday, from noon to 7pm, with free admission.

"The reopening of the Sesc Arte unit means providing the public access to a historical heritage of the city and also one more leisure and culture option for the people that circulate daily through the region", says the president of the Fecomércio RJ System (Sesc RJ and Senac RJ), Antonio Florencio de Queiroz Junior.

SERVICE

CARYBÉ, CÍCERO DIAS AND GLAUCO RODRIGUES
SESC ARTE CULTURAL SPACE
Opening 28 January 2022

Rua Marquês de Abrantes 99 - Flamengo