Aldir Mendes de Souza (São Paulo, SP, 1941 - Idem, 2007)
Painter, draftsman, sculptor and printmaker.
He graduated from the Paulista School of Medicine (EPM) in 1964, specializing in plastic surgery. Self-taught in painting, he began to exhibit in the early 1960s, developing in parallel the careers of doctor and artist. He defends his doctoral thesis in Medicine from the University of São Paulo (USP), in 1966. From 1969 onwards, the coffee tree and the coffee plantation became constant subjects in his production. In the 1970s, he made paintings that make references to the city expanding towards the countryside. In that same decade, he works as a screenwriter and film director, performing short, medium and feature films.
In 1992, Souza celebrates 30 years of painting with an exhibition at Paço das Artes, in São Paulo. In the same year, in Italy, he published Geometrie Parlanti [speaking geometries], a book about his work that features texts by Italian critics and a poem by Haroldo de Campos (1929-2003), written based on Souza's work especially for this publication. Since the beginning of the 1980s, several books have been released that analyze his artistic trajectory, such as Aldir - Obsession for Color, by critics Frederico Morais and Olívio Tavares de Araújo.
Critical Commentary
Aldir Mendes de Souza begins his artistic career in the 1960s. He performs performances and works in mixed technique close to the universe of science fiction, such as a spatial tragedy (1966). In the 1970s, he works with plates and films for X-rays and in thermography, as a woman in thermography (1973), in which the influence of his performance as a doctor is noted. At the same time, the themes of the coffee plantation and the relationship between the countryside and the city appear in his production. These paintings present, at first, a descriptive vocation, as in Canvas Cafezal (1962). Gradually, however, the theme of the coffee plantation began to be treated in an increasingly abstract way, as in Cidade Campo (1982).
When commenting on the work of Aldir Mendes de Souza, the critic Frederico Morais notes that, from the years 1970, geometry takes the place of the theme. It also considers that, despite the difference in formal treatment, Souza's painting suggests approximations with the works of Arcangelo Ianelli (1922-2009) and Alfredo Volpi (1896-1988) regarding the concern with color in a context geometric. As the art historian Renato Brolezzi notes, the artist's production over time seeks the answer to a basic question - that of how to understand and translate the space plastically. Geometry, mainly with the use of perspective rectangles, becomes predominant in his work. From the end of the 1980s onwards, Souza produces concrete painting works and proposes canvases displayed horizontally, arranged on the floor, which allow a different angle of view to the viewer.
Criticism
"In the specific case of coffee plantations (...), it has been looking for the artist to extract all the virtualities from this theme, giving new provisions to the same elements, varying and thinning the color, pursuing a certain scope of exaction and cleaning, taking care of the safety and rhythm of the brush stroke, in a process of debugging. Introduce, in the same theme, the continuant aspects of the industrialization and commerce of coffee, then appearing, with its chimneys, other characteristics of its usual architecture, the milling and roasting plants or the bagging and storage warehouses. which, at this stage, came to more convincing results, to a more organized painting, in which the marks of a geometric constructivism reconstruct, perfectly compatible in the general structure of the composition and with the represented object".
Paulo Mendes de Almeida
ALMEIDA, Paulo Mendes de. "Coffee Industry". In: Arrow Gallery. Aldir Mendes de Souza: critical assessments 1966-1976. São Paulo, 1976.
"In the 70s, Aldir develops extensive work, referenced in the countryside and in the city. At the beginning, farmer houses appear in the midst of the coffee plantations. Then roads, factories, buildings appear. It is the city invading the countryside, competing with it. The buildings occupy large areas of the screen, in its dominating verticality, and the viaducts and roads cross it obliquely. (...) In the late 1970s, Aldir was attracted by the abstraction. He declares textually: 'After the great chromatic lesson of abstract painters, we, the figuratives, need to start all over again. A series of geometric abstract paintings from the figure of the rectangle. (...) In 1983, Aldir develops a series of portraits of artists and critics, in which he begins a process of re-reading all his previous work, placing in the background, behind the figure, one of its landscapes. (...) Then Aldir paints a magnificent series entitled Geometry, which is a synthesis of his abstract painting from 1980 and from previous works inspired by the geometry of the Earth. (...)".
Enock Sacramento
aldir: perspectives. Presentation by Enock Sacramento. São Paulo: Dan Galeria, 1986.
"Color is the content and The form in Aldir's painting. Geometry helps you to build color, while its theme, be it the geometry of the earth (the field) or the geometry of the city (the buildings), are forms, mere pretexts and, sometimes, intertexts, for the architecture of your iconographic language. If it is with color that Aldir traces his geometry, the product obtained is a geometry of color".
Alberto BeutenMüller
18 Contemporaries. Presentation by J. Peter Cohn. São Paulo: Dan Galeria, 1987.
Individual exhibitions
1963 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the Escola Paulista de Medicina
1965 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Galeria Teatro de Arena
1966 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Galeria Artécnica  
1970 - São Paulo SP - Aldir Mendes de Souza: Paintings, at the Chelsea Gallery
1971 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Individual, at Galeria Ibeu Copacabana
1971 - São Caetano do Sul SP - Individual, at the Fundação das Artes
1972 - Santos SP - Individual, at the Centro Cultural Brasil United States
1973 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the Ipanema Art Gallery
1975 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the Arrow Art Gallery
1976 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Aldir Mendes de Souza: 14 Years of coffee plantations 1963-1976, at the Galerie de la Maison de France
1977 - Guarujá SP - Individual, at Casa Grande Hotel
1977 - New York (United States) - individual, at Brazilian Government Trade Bureau
1977 - Washington (United States) - Individual, at the Brazilian-American Cultural Institute
1978 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the Global Art Gallery  
1979 - Brasília DF - Individual, at Oscar Seraphico Art Gallery
1979 - Curitiba PR - Individual, at the Paraná Art Museum
1979 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Aldir Mendes de Souza: paintings, Funarte. GALLERY SÉRGIO MILLIET 
1979 - SÃO PAULO SP - ALDIR MENDES DE SOUZA: Paintings, at the Art Gallery Project
1980 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Itaugaleria
1980 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the Art Gallery
1981 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Paulo Prado Art Gallery
1982 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Applied Art I - Gallery
1982 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at MAB/FAAP  
1983 - Belo Horizonte MG - City x Campo
1983 - Marília SP - City x Campo
1983 - Ribeirão Preto SP - City x Campo
1983 - Curitiba PR - City x Campo, at the Paraná Public Library
1983 - São José dos Campos SP - City x Campo, at Tênis Clube São José dos Campos
1983 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at MAB/FAAP
1985 - Paris (France) - Aldir/Perspectives, sponsored by the Brazilian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, at the gallery Debret
1985 - Lisbon (Portugal) - Aldir/Perspectivas, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, at the National Society of Fine Arts
1985 - Madrid (Spain) - Aldir/Perspectives, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil, at Casa do Brasil
1985 - Rome (Italy) - Aldir/Perspectives, sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Brazil,   at Casa do Brazil
1985 - São Paulo SP - Geo/metry, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1986 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Individual, at MNBA
1986 - São Paulo SP - Aldir Mendes de Souza: Perspectives, at Dan Galeria de Arte
1988 - São Paulo SP - Aldir Mendes de Souza: Paintings, at Galeria Montesanti Roesler
1991 - Naples (Italy) - Individual, at Galeria Estúdio Espósito
1992 - Salerno (Italy) - Individual, at Galeria La Seggiola
1992 - São Paulo SP - Aldir Mendes de Souza: Paintings, at Paço das Artes
1993 - San Severo (Italy) - Individual, at Associazione Culturale Dedalos
1993 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at USP/SIB
1994 - AVELINO (Italy) - Individual, in Centro Culturale L'Approdo
1994 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at MAB/FAAP
1996 - Santos SP - Aldir Mendes de Souza: Paintings, at Pinacoteca Benedito Calixto
2001 - São Paulo SP - Paintings for Pisar, at Pinacoteca do Estado
2003 - São Paulo SP - Aldir: 40 years of painting 1962-2002, at MASP. Galeria Prestes Maia
2003 - São Paulo SP - Aldir: Obsession with color, at the Blue Life Cultural
Collective exhibitions
1962 - São Paulo SP - Collective, at the Escola Paulista de Medicine
1962 - São Paulo SP - Hall of Work, at the Folhas Art Gallery
1963 - São Paulo SP - Hall of Work, at the Folhas Art Gallery
1964 - São Paulo SP - Collective, at the Christian Families Association
1966 - Campinas SP - 1st Salão de Arte Moderno da Juventude de São Paulo, at MACC
1966 - Campinas SP - 2nd Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas
1966 - Salvador BA - 1st National Biennial of Fine Arts - Prize Stimulus
1966 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - 9th São Bernardo do Campo Art Salon - 1st Prize
1966 - São Paulo SP - 15th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art, at the Prestes Maia Gallery - Silver Medal
1966 - São Paulo SP - 4 young painters, at MAB/FAAP
1966 - São Paulo SP - 6 painters, at Galeria Artécnica
1966 - São Paulo SP - Young artists, MAB/FAAP
1966 - São Paulo SP - University Art Salon - 1st Prize
1966 - São Paulo SP - Operational Research Hall, at the Folhas Art Gallery
1966 - São Paulo SP - Vanguarda Young man at the Art Gallery of the Theater of Arena
1966 - Vitória ES - Salão de Arte Modern Art of Vitória
1966 - Brasília DF - 3rd Salão de Arte Modern Art of the Federal District
1967 - Campinas SP - 3rd Contemporary Art Salon de Campinas
1967 - São Caetano do Sul SP - 1st Contemporary Art Salon of São Caetano do Sul - Silver Medal
1967 - São Paulo SP - 16th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art - Silver Medal
1967 - São Paulo SP - Young Vanguard, at the Cine Belas Artes Gallery
1967 - São Paulo SP - 9th São Paulo International Biennial, at the Bienal Foundation
1968 - Campinas SP - 4th Contemporary Art Salon of Campinas, MAC - Research Award
1968 - Campinas SP - Salon of the Young Artist, at MACC - Special Reference
1968 - Salvador BA - 2nd National Biennial of Plastic Arts, at MAM/BA
1968 - Santo André SP - 1st Contemporary Art Salon of Santo André
1968 - Santos SP - Official Salon of Contemporary Art of Santos
1968 - São Bernardo do Campo SP - 11th São Bernardo do Campo Art Salon
1968 - São Caetano do Sul SP - Contemporary Art Salon of São Caetano do Sul - Acquisition Award
1968 - São Paulo SP - 17th Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna
1968 - São Paulo SP - Group 4, at the gallery of Cine Belas Artes
1968 - São Paulo SP - 2nd Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP
1969 - Campinas SP - 5th Contemporary Art Salon of Campinas
1969 - Curitiba PR - 26th Salão Paranaense, at the Federation of Industries of Paraná - 1st Prize
1969 - Piracicaba SP - 2nd Contemporary Art Salon of Piracicaba
1969 - Porto Alegre RS - 2nd Young Contemporary Art, at Margs
1969 - Santo André SP - 2nd Salon of Contemporary Art of Santo André
1969 - Santos SP - Santos Salon - Acquisition Award
1969 - São Caetano do Sul SP - 3rd Contemporary Art Salon of São Caetano do Sul
1969 - São José dos Campos SP - 1st Contemporary Art Salon
1969 - São Paulo SP - 10th São Paulo International Biennial, at the Bienal Foundation
1969 - São Paulo SP - 1st São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon, at MASP
1969 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Young Contemporary Painting, at MAC/USP
1969 - São Paulo SP - and now, at Teatro Anchieta
1969 - São Paulo SP - 1st Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, in the MAM/SP
1969 - São Paulo SP - Painters of Brazil, at Paço das Artes
1970 - Belo Horizonte MG - 2nd National Salon of Contemporary Art of Belo Horizonte - Acquisition Award
1970 - Piracicaba SP - 2nd Contemporary Art Salon of Piracicaba
1970 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 19th National Salon of Modern Art, at MAM/RJ
1970 - Santo André SP - 3rd Salon of Contemporary Art of Santo André, at the Municipal Palace - Acquisition Award
1970 - São Caetano do Sul SP - Contemporary Art Salon of São Caetano do Sul - Honorable Mention
1970 - São Paulo SP - Pre-Bienal de São Paulo, at the Bienal Foundation
1970 - São Paulo SP - 2nd Salão Paulista de Arte Contemporânea, at MASP - Honorable Mention
1970 - São Paulo SP - 4th Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP - Acquisition Award
1970 - São Paulo SP - Exhibition In honor of Lasar Segall, at the Hebraica Atualidades Gallery.
1971 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 20th National Salon of Modern Art, at MAM/RJ
1971 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 1st Art Salon of Eletrobrás, at MAM/RJ - Honorable Mention
1971 - Santos SP - 1st Biennial of Fine Arts - Acquisition Award
1971 - São Caetano do Sul SP - 5th Contemporary Art Salon of São Caetano do Sul
1971 - São Paulo SP - 11th International Biennial of São Paulo, at the Bienal Foundation
1971 - São Paulo SP - 5th Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP
1972 - São Paulo SP - 1st National Biennial of São Paulo, at Fundação Bienal - Research Award
1972 - São Paulo SP - 4th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1972 - São Paulo SP - 4th São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon, in the MASP
1972 - São Paulo SP - 6th Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP
1972 - São Paulo SP - Sesquicentennial Art Exhibition of Independence and Plastic Brazil - 72, at Fundação Bienal
1973 - Belo Horizonte MG - 5th National Salon of Contemporary Art, at MAP
1973 - São Paulo SP - 12th São Paulo International Biennial, at the Biennial Foundation
1974 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Salão Estado do Rio January
1974 - São Paulo SP - Coffee, pollution, oxen and bandits, at Pendulum Art Gallery
1974 - São Paulo SP - 5th São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon, at Masp
1976 - São Paulo SP - Bienal Nacional 76, at Fundação Bienal
1976 - São Paulo SP - 8th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1976 - São Paulo SP - 7th Salão Paulista de Arte Contemporânea, at Paço das Arts
1977 - São Paulo SP - 14th São Paulo International Biennial, at Fundação Bienal - Itamaraty Acquisition Award
1978 - Belo Horizonte MG - 10th National Salon of Contemporary Art in Belo Horizonte - Acquisition Award
1978 - Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 15 young artists from Brazil at the Museum of Modern Art of Buenos Aires
1978 - Mexico City (Mexico) - 1st Ibero-American Painting Biennial
1978 - São Paulo SP - 15 young artists from Brazil, at MAB/FAAP
1979 - Curitiba PR - 36th Salão Paranaense, at the Guaíra Theater - CEF Acquisition Award
1979 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 2nd National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MAM/RJ
1979 - São Paulo SP - 11th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1980 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 3rd National Salon of Plastic Arts, at MNBA
1982 - Mexico City (Mexico) - 3rd Iberoamerican Art Biennial - 2nd Prize
1983 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 8th Art Salon of Ribeirão Preto - 1st Prize
1983 - São Paulo SP - 14th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1984 - São Paulo SP - Art on Rua 2
1984 - São Paulo SP - The urban and industrial dimensions in figurative painting Paulista, at Traço Galeria de Arte
1984 - São Paulo SP - 15th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1984 - São Paulo SP - Tradition and rupture: synthesis of Brazilian art and culture, at the Bienal Foundation
1986 - Mexico City (Mexico) - 5th Iberoamerican Biennale
1986 - Havana (Cuba) - 2nd Havana International Biennial
1986 - São Paulo SP - Before and Now: 8 Painters, at Fundação Cásper Líbero
1986 - São Paulo SP - Volpi Permanence and Headquarters: 7 artists from São Paulo, at Montesanti Roesler Gallery
1987 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Ribeirão Art Salon Preto
1987 - São Paulo SP - 18 Contemporaries, at Dan Galeria de Arte
1987 - São Paulo SP - 20th Contemporary Art Exhibition, at Chapel Art Show
1991 - Montana Alburini (Italy) - Alchimia del Colore
1991 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Synchronias, at MNBA
1991 - Salerno (Italy) - Synchronias, at Galleria La Seggiola
1991 - São Paulo SP - What are you doing now Generation 60?: Young contemporary art of the 60s revisited, at MAC/USP
1991 - São Paulo SP - Syncs, at Masp
1992 - Rome (Italy) - Synchronies, at the Instituto Italo-Latino Ameriacano
1993 - Bari (Italy) - Ultramare di Bare fair
1993 - Santos SP - 4th Santos Biennial, at the Centro Cultural Patrícia Galvão
1993 - São Paulo SP - Luso-Nipo-Brazilian Exhibition, at MAB/FAAP  
1994 - São Paulo SP - Flags: 60 artists honor the 60th anniversary of USP, at MAC/USP 
1995 - Osasco SP - 2nd Art Exhibition, at the Instituto de Ensino para Osasco Foundation, at Centro Universitário FIEO
1996 - Osasco SP - 4th Art Exhibition, at the Fundação Instituto de Ensino para Osasco, at Centro Universitário FIEO
1996 - São Paulo SP - Bandeiras, at the SESI Art Gallery
1997 - Brasília DF - Poets of Space and Color, in the MAB/DF
1997 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Poets of Space and Color, at MAM/RJ
1997 - São Paulo SP - Poets of Space and Color, at MASP
1998 - Santo André SP - LER Bonomi and Aldir yesterday and today, at the Paço Municipal Exhibition Hall
1999 - São Paulo SP - The female figure in the MAB collection, at MAB/FAAP
2000 - São Paulo SP - The female figure in the MAB collection, MAB/FAAP
2001 - São Paulo SP - 7 APAP artists, at the Oswald de Andrade Cultural Workshop
2002 - São Paulo SP - 10th São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon, at the Júlio Prestes Cultural Complex
2003 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brazilianart Project, at Almacén Art Gallery
Source: Itaú Cultural
