Alexandre da Cunha Rio, a great artist
For almost two years, the artist Alexandre da Cunha Rio made his gallerist, Luisa Strina, work "for free" for him, as an embroiderer. The result of this partnership, thirteen pieces of jute-embroidery is now in the exhibition "Fair Trade", on display in Sao Paulo, along with two other works of Alexander made with concrete. Passing through Brazil to mount the exhibition, the artist, who lives in London since 1998, this blog talked about his work and about the "injustice" of the art world.
In dealing with these jobs that you are showing in this exhibition in Sao Paulo?
The exhibition of Galeria Luisa Strina series is "Fair Trade" (which gives its name to the show) and also has two works in particular, that are inspired by quilts English (sort of patchwork). One uses concrete and foam ("Quilt Ivory"), the other, concrete and leather ("Sahara Quilt"). They are derivative works of the cylinder of concrete and foam presented at the beginning of last year, the SP-Art (art fair in São Paulo).
What is the series "Fair Trade"?
It is a work made from jute bags for transporting goods. And they bring printed illustrations, logos, brands. Most are also printed the words "fair trade", which I used as title of the exhibition. This "seal" it'll say that these products are supposedly being produced and managed sustainably in developing countries. I cut pieces of bags with evidence of the graphics of these impressions and sent to Luisa (Strina) embroidery, like those colorful embroidery templates. It is a commentary on the art market as well ...
Do you think the art market is unfair?
The art market is a game that builds its own rules and changes all the time. So think of "justice" in this context is quite complicated.I think there's a shame that great artists can not live of their own work, and have other bad they are millionaires. But I think it happens in many other areas, and try to believe that bad artists disappear with time. I was very interested in this subject and I think this discussion stimulating value. I try to approach this in my work with the appropriation of banal objects and everyday things, which, somehow, make a comment about the market and the value of things, both in their original context, as in the artistic context.
Where did these objects?
Many of these things, I can at auctions and bazaars taking place in the English countryside on the outskirts of cities, where people sell all kinds of junk at all. I also use many household items bought in stores 1.99.
The Tate Modern in London, his work has acquired two of the series "Fan" in 2005. Being on such an important marked his career?
I was very lucky they had purchased the work. But more importantly, was the fact that, soon after purchase, the works have been on display for months. It's not often that happens. This meant that they had much visibility. It was amazing how many people said to me he had seen. This was very good. At that time, many good things happened in my career. Log in to the collection of the Tate was another.
This work uses skateboards mounted like blades of a ceiling fan. This came from a collection of skateboard?
I had a collection of skateboards, but I'm not a skater. All were purchased at second hand stores. They have stickers, things written names. But many people came to ask me if they were mine, if I was a skateboarder. I think it's fun to "steal" a little of the personality of people who had these objects ...
What next?
Now I'm running back to London because my studio is being renovated, and because I am producing for an exhibition in Berlin on 29 to open as part of the Gallery Weekend, which is an event promoted by the city's galleries. But before that, on 16, opens an exhibition of mine in the Centro Cultural São Paulo, with works made in the last five years.
And I saw you on the cover of "Frieze"! ...
Yeah! But it's not a story on me! It is a work of Daniel (German artist based in London, Daniel Sinsel). The report speaks of an exhibition in his gallery Chisen Hale, London. In this issue of the magazine also has a story on Inhotim citing my work in there. But the cover image has to do with the text on Daniel.
