Exhibition “Ascension”, by Alexandre Ignacio Alves

Exhibition “Ascensão”, by Alexandre Ignacio Alves, honors the ancestry of a black family at the FAMA Museu, in Itú

The painter articulates a complex arrangement of references, techniques, traditions and strategies in the ten acrylic paintings on canvas made in 2021

Visual artist Alexandre Ignacio Alves presents the solo exhibition “Ascensão” until January 14, 2024 at FAMA Museu, in Itu, in the interior of São Paulo. With critical text by Tiago Gualberto, the exhibition reveals 10 (ten) large-format paintings with characters from his family.

Previously, it was presented at MIS-Campinas and at Oficina Cultural Oswald de Andrade, in 2022, in São Paulo. The project was awarded by PROAC 10/2022 – Visual Arts / Exhibition Circulation and has institutional support from FAMA Museu, production from CAIS, support from cachaça Tie and implementation from the Government of the State of São Paulo.

Even though the title of the exhibition has a religious reference – the moment in which Jesus Christ was raised to heights in front of his disciples – the artist promotes reunions, not only with his portrayed family members, but above all with the attention capacity of the gaze, dodging the profusion of images of the contemporary world and the stereotype and prejudice that still surround the lives of black people in Brazil.

Three decades of production
In the year in which he celebrates 30 years of career, Alexandre Ignacio Alves participates in 4 almost simultaneous exhibitions, two of which are solo (“Ascensão” at FAMA Museu, in Itú, and “A Sorte está Nuncada” at Casa do Olhar Luiz Sacilotto, in Santo André, curated by Ana Avelar) and two collectives (“Aquisições Recentes – Coleção de Arte da Cidade” at CCSP and “Jaraguá1135M” – curated by Laerte Ramos, at Oficina Cultural Oswald de Andrade, both in São Paulo).

“Alexandre Alves dispenses with the conventional literalness of the photographic image to pursue his deep interest in images of the past, especially those linked to Western artistic traditions. Among them, ancient stone sculptures and monochromatic painting techniques. These traditions feed the artist with a repertoire dedicated to the construction of volumes based on a careful use of subtle tones and nuances”, states curator Tiago Gualberto in the critical text.

About the artist
Alexandre Ignácio Alves was born in 1968, in São Paulo, where he lives and works. He studied artistic education at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado – FAAP, in 1998. He participated in three collective exhibitions that gained prominence in 2022: 40th edition Arte Pará – Casa das eleven windows – Belém, which was among the three best exhibitions of the year by popular vote a SeleCT magazine; MAR Mais Enciclopédia Negra Collection – Rio Art Museum – Rio de Janeiro, which received huge public visits and coverage from the local press in Rio and the “+100 = 22 /How many ducks in the lagoon? ” – Galeria Virgílio / SP and Galeria Conviv’Art | UFRN, which celebrated the centenary of the 1922 Modern Art Week.

Among his main exhibitions are: “Margens de 22: Popular Presences” at Sesc Carmo; “Between Landscapes and States of the Soul” – Galeria B_arco – SP-Arte Viewing Room, in 2020; “Invisible Art” – Oficina Cultural Oswald de Andrade – São Paulo and “Collective hug” – Atelier 397 – São Paulo, both in 2019; “Pictura Ut Diversitas” Memorial da América Latina, in 2007; Inaugural exhibition of the Afrobrasil Museum – São Paulo and 33 years of the Bunkyo Salon – São Paulo, both in 2004; Art in Movement – SESC Pompéia –São Paulo, in 1998; Internal Circuit version 3 – MAB FAAP – São Paulo and Tannan International Art Competition – Fukui, Japan, both in 1996; Bunkyo Salon – São Paulo and 25th Annual FAAP – São Paulo, both in 1995.

He curated the exhibition “Metropolis: Contenitori di quali contenuti?” Rome Film fest 2007 – Selection of Brazilian artists – Rome, in addition to having works in public collections such as SESC, Museum of the Brazilian Society of Japanese Culture, Pinacoteca do Estado São Paulo, Museu de Arte Contemporânea do Rio Grande do Sul – MACRS and in Rio Art Museum – MAR.

About FAMA Museum
It is one of the largest art museums in Latin America, open to the public since 2018. It occupies an area of 25,000 m2 in the historic center of the city of Itu, in the interior of São Paulo (Brazil), where Companhia Fiação e Tecelagem São operated for many years. Pedro, a textile industry of great national economic relevance.

It offers large exhibitions, public notices and cultural mediation activities. The collection focusing on Brazilian art includes works by fundamental artists, from modern to contemporary, covering different artistic languages, sculpture, engraving, drawing, installations, paintings and photography.

With more than eight exhibition rooms, the gardens and warehouses stand out, where architecture from the beginning of the 20th century involves the visitor in a unique experience, in which heritage dialogues with Brazilian art.

FAST SERVICE
solo show “Ascensão” by Alexandre Ignacio Alves
critical text 01/2024
(Wednesday to Sunday, 11am to 5pm)

location: FAMA Museum
Rua Padre Bartolomeu Tadei, 09
Vila São Francisco – Itu – São Paulo – 13300-190
tel: (11) 4022.4828
website: http://www.famamuseu.org.br
price: free
age range: free

social media
Alexandre Ignacio Alves: @alexandre_ignacio_alves
Tiago Gualberto: @tiagogualberto
FAMA Museum: @famamuseu

photo credits
works: Fabricio Pimentel / Disclosure
portrait artist: Cris Ameln / Disclosure