(Frankfurt, Germany)
“CAPACETE in Portikus” is an initiative organized by Helmut Batista, founder of the residency program of research “CAPACETE Entretenimentos” [CAPACETE Entertainments], based in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo. The exhibition features a excerpt of the multiple voices that were present in sixteen years of activities. Expanding on CAPACETE’s involvement in the field of cultural production in Brazil, the exhibition at Portikus features new works that will reflect on this unique history while also creating a multi-layered commentary on the current situation in Brazil. The project aims at “cannibalizing” Brazil’s very own culture—drawing on aspects as well as clichés of Anthropophagia and Tropicalismo, both deeply rooted in Brazilian cultural discourse—and thus raises questions around paradoxical aspects of the country’s economical and political status quo today.
CAPACETE was recently forced to discontinue part of its activities due to insufficient local financial support. Seeing that the city of Frankfurt is hosting Brazil as its guest of honor at this year’s Book Fair, Portikus invited Helmut Batista and handed over the role of host back to a Brazilian cultural producer. This allows CAPACETE to cannibalize cultural capital that emerges from a transnational hyper-event, and inscribe itself in the existing structure at Portikus.
On the occasion of the exhibition, Helmut Batista and Amilcar Packer produced a new film titled “Extático”. The movie was filmed from a helicopter that circled around the monumental statue of Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro. In contrast, “Gira” by Alexandre Vogler, will be installed in the main exhibition space. Using branches of the medicinal herb Ruta graveolens, commonly known as rue, mounted on large devices, turning, he evokes spiritual and ancestral traditions of Brazil. The intense smell of the herb is further enhanced by fogging, performance Vogler, consisting of a censer mobile smokes and expels evil spirits. The artist will assemble a fogging machine on a bike and exorcise Portikus and the city of Frankfurt. Two concerts complement the performative aspect of the exhibition: a presentation of the artist Arto Lindsay and another of the multi-instrumentalist Siri. Both performances will work as parallel soundtracks for the film by Batista and Packer, which is showed as a backdrop to the stage. Another piece on show is a text newly produced by writer and curator Daniela Castro, which is based on notions of “Anthropophagia” to create a dystopian scenario for Brazil.
The upper gallery is dedicated to a comprehensive presentation of the work of Brazilian designer, poet, musician, artist and author Rogério Duarte. Duarte is a central figure in the artistic movement known as “Tropicália”, which has its origins in the 1960s. His huge influence on the imagery and visual language of this movement is reflected in its long-term collaboration with contemporaries such as Gilberto Gil, Glauber Rocha, Helio Oiticica and Caetano Veloso. A selection of his work, including posters, album covers, books and other objects will be displayed next to his new monographic publication “Marginalia 1”. The book was developed by designer Manuel Raeder and by artist Mariana Castillo Deball over a period of four years. It is the first in-depth study of the practice of Duarte, and is published by BOM DIA BOA TARDE BOA NOITE and Portikus on the occasion of this exhibition.
Program schedule:
October 5, 8pm
Concert/performance by Siri
Brazilian multi-instrumentalist Siri will give a concert/performance, and offers a second soundtrack to the film Ecstatic. SIRI uses the Berimbau, the main instrument of the Afro-Brazilian martial dance Capoeira as a medium of sound.
October 9, 8pm
Book launch: Marginália 1. Rogério Duarte
with Rogério Duarte, Mariana Castillo Deball, Max Hinderer, Manuel Raeder, Narlan Matos Teixeira.
October 9 – October 13
CAPACETE Entretenimentos participates at the Frankfurt Book Fair, Frankfurter Buchmesse at stand 4.1 P40 where will be presented new publications by Arto Lindsay and Jonas Staal.
October 22, 7pm
Presentation by Pedro Cesarino at Städelschule.
September 18 – October 30
Lecture by Pedro Cesarino, Amilcar Packer and Helmut Batista at Städelschule.
Venues:
http://www.portikus.de/
http://www.staedelschule.de/