presents
December 5th 2023 through January 30th 2024
Espasso Miami
“Anthropophagy” literally means the cannibalistic act— eating the flesh of one's own species to absorb the best of the opponent. In the view of Oswald de Andrade (adviser of São Paulo’s pivotal Modern Art Week of 1922), Brazilian culture should feed on foreign art, quite literally consuming the best of foreign references as sustenance for its own. "Tupi or not tupi, that is the question", a sardonic commentary on Shakespeare.
One hundred years later, “anthropophagy” gained a new meaning. Foreign food is no longer the favorite dish. Culture no longer receives external dogmas. It feeds on its own stomach, on the history of a country that for a long time ignored its own insides. Today, Indigenous peoples, the Black movement, and Popular Art coexist with Niemeyer's Brasilia; Bossa Nova listens to funk carioca. The mastery of Joaquim Tenreiro's pieces contrast with the visceral world of Chico Tabibuia. Aleijadinho's colonial baroque inspires carnival parades, and Yemanjá, in all her divinity, becomes omnipresent.
Antagonistic coexistences establish and authenticate the present. Cultures buried for so long emerge with strong symbolic value, sharing visibility and symbolism with the elite. The pains and memories of enslaved people, indigenous people, black people, favela residents, and believers demarcate new borders.
Presented as a celebration of cultural anthropophagy and its influence in the modernist and post-modernist trajectories of Brazil since the 20th century, the exhibit features 80 photographic essays by Ruy Teixeira, in addition to sculpture, objects and furniture by contemporary Brazilian artists. Coined by poet Oswald de Andade, a key proponent of the Brazilian modernist movement and the pivotal “Modern Art Week of 1922”, “Anthropophagy” literally means a cannibalistic act— eating the flesh of one's own species to absorb the best of the opponent. According to Ruy Teixeira,“One hundred years later, “anthropophagy” gained a new meaning. [Brazilian] culture no longer receives external dogmas. It feeds on its own stomach, on the history of a country that for a long time ignored its own insides.”
Ruy Teixeira, born in São Paulo in 1957, cultivated a lifelong artistic journey that began at the age of six in his grandfather's darkroom.
His broad career spans across fashion, photojournalism, fashion, and architectural photography. Collaborating with prestigious magazines and renowned designers, his work reflects a profound connection with spaces and aesthetics. After 25 years in Milan, his return to Brazil in 2012 is marked by collaborations with prestigious magazines and clients, along with international exhibitions and book publications showcasing his deep engagement with Brazilian modernist design and architecture.
Teixeira's diverse portfolio includes books on Brasília's architectural heritage and Brazilian design. His 2017 book, "Caderno de Design Arquitetura e Arte," explores São Paulo's modernist architecture and iconic locations. Exhibiting internationally, he has showcased in Milan and Basel, marking a continued legacy in the intersection of photography, design, and architecture. His work, spanning photography, design, and curation, reflects a deep engagement with the modernist heritage and architectural spaces, making a significant impact in both European and Brazilian contexts. For the first time in the United States, Ruy Teixeira presents his work through the opening of Anthropophagy.
Established in 2002, ESPASSO is committed to conserving Brazil’s rich 20th century design heritage and expanding its global reach, while promoting the work of today’s leading designers and generations to come. With physical locations in New York, Miami and London, and a longstanding presence in Los Angeles, ESPASSO is a premier gallery representing mid-century, modern and contemporary Brazilian design - a thriving outpost for interior designers, architects, artists, collectors and cultural institutions. The brand has acquired global recognition for its curatorial vision and innovative spirit, representing work of the finest quality and providing excellence in service with unmatched distribution capabilities.
