Edu de Barros

Critical text

The multi-layered and visually engaging practice of Edu de Barros (b. 1992, Brazil) comes from myriad sources, from Christian and esoteric symbolism to his repertoire as a digital native. The artist lives in Rocinha, the largest favela in Brazil, and is interested in creating works that engage both the people living in the surroundings of his studio and a professional contemporary art audience. His large-scale figurative paintings and all-encompassing installations are filled with ambiguity and an acid commentary on cultural and political phenomena. His prophet-like persona sees art as an ally in fighting against social inequality and LGBTphobia in a country currently led by a far-right fundamentalist. For Present Future, de Barros will present fragments of the gesamtkunstwerk he created inside Sé Galeria, during the Covid-19 lockdown, alongside new works specially made for the occasion.

Text by Fernanda Brenner, Ilaria Gianni