Efrain Almeida de Melo (Boa Viagem CE 1964)
Sculptor.
He moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1976. Ten years later, he began his artistic training at the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage (EAV/Parque Lage) [Parque Lage School of Visual Arts]. In 1990, he took a course at the Museu de Arte Moderna do Rio de Janeiro (MAM/RJ), began researching various materials and chose wood as the main raw material of his works, which consist of small sculptures. That same year, he worked as an assistant to the painter Hilton Berredo (1954). The religious influence he received as a child in Boa Viagem and the popular imagery of Brazil's Northeast are recurring themes in his works, which refer to ex-votos. He held his first solo exhibition, Objetos [Objects], at the Centro Cultural Sérgio Porto in Rio de Janeiro in 1993. He took part in the 1st Bienal do Mercosul [Mercosul Biennial] in 1997 and the Bienal Internacional de Buenos Aires [Buenos Aires International Biennial] in 2002.
Critical Commentary
Efrain Almeida's works consist of small wooden sculptures, objects made of fabric and small-format watercolors. In all of them, the theme is the same: parts of the body (foot, hand, head) or objects (bag, dress, shirt).
The images of parts of the human body evoke the idea of the ex-voto, a religious tradition very present in Brazil's Northeast region, where Almeida was born. This element gives his works an autobiographical meaning, related to childhood memories in the interior of Ceará. The reference to religion becomes evident in works such as São Sebastião [Saint Sebastian] (1997), in which he carves into a tree trunk the outline of the image of the patron saint of those suffering from epidemics.
The titles of the works are also important information for understanding Almeida's poetics. O Merecedor [The Deserving One] (1997) and Para Guardar Desejos [To Keep Wishes] (1998) are examples of how the titles carry meanings that complement the sense of the small votive pieces, carved with an economy of detail.
In watercolor, the artist intensifies the repertoire of images that seem to need the viewer's memory to be activated. Such is the case of Pés com Estigmas [Feet with Stigmata] (2001), whose drawing, without marks of aggressiveness, carries strong religious associations.
Critiques
"(...) the critical relevance of Efrain Almeida's small sculptures sharpens, with acrid humor, the acute sense of their origins in popular craft and especially in ex-votos. Tense little figures or segments of offering hands, his images lose the meaning of imitation to shift toward a discourse that touches on Pop Art, but above all they set out in search of new meanings, seeking a breadth that ostensibly imprints an independence in dealing with tradition and with information coming from the great cultural centers. (...)
In his works, Efrain appropriates forms from the popular imagery of the Northeast and carves them into small wooden pieces, treated with some polychromy. He works on the reconstruction of meanings, almost always referring to the human figure or parts of it. His small pieces make a perverse allusion to religious fragments, ex-votos, popular imagery, early childhood and the state of innocence".
Stella Teixeira de Barros
BARROS, Stella Teixeira de. Apropriações antropofágicas. In: APROPRIAÇÕES antropofágicas. São Paulo: Instituto Cultural Itaú, 1997. p. 8 e 39.
Solo Exhibitions
1993 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Efrain Almeida: objetos [Efrain Almeida: Objects], at Espaço Cultural Sérgio Porto
1996 - São Paulo SP - Projeto 96 [Project 96], at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
1997 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
1998 - Porto (Portugal) - Solo, at Canvas & Companhia Galeria de Arte Contemporânea
1999 - Seattle (United States) - Solo, at James Harris Gallery
2000 - Porto (Portugal) - Castigo [Punishment], at Canvas & Companhia Galeria de Arte Contemporânea
2000 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2001 - Fortaleza CE - Solo, at Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura
2001 - Recife PE - Solo, at Galeria Vicente do Rego Monteiro
2001 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Efrain Almeida: objeto e desenho [Efrain Almeida: Object and Drawing], at Anna Maria Niemeyer Galeria de Arte
2001 - Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - Solo, at Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea
2001 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2003 - Belo Horizonte MG - Efrain Almeida, at Léo Bahia Arte Contemporânea
2003 - Natal RN - Pés [Feet], at Espaço Cultural Casa da Ribeira
2003 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Los Recuerdos Son lo que me Queda [Memories Are What I Have Left], at Galeria Anna Maria Niemeyer
2004 - São Paulo SP - Efrain Almeida, at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
Group Exhibitions
1987 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 11º Salão Carioca de Arte [11th Rio de Janeiro Art Salon], at Estação Carioca do Metrô
1988 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Le Déjeuner sur l'Art: Manet no Brasil [Le Déjeuner sur l'Art: Manet in Brazil], at EAV/Parque Lage
1990 - Niterói RJ - Cacos Cotidianos [Everyday Shards], at Funiarte
1990 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Semana de Antropofagia [Anthropophagy Week], at MAM/RJ
1991 - Curitiba PR - 48º Salão Paranaense [48th Paraná Salon], at MAC/PR
1992 - Belém PA - 11º Salão Arte-Pará [11th Arte-Pará Salon], at Fundação Rômulo Maiorana
1992 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Ateliê Vila Isabel: 7 artistas [Vila Isabel Studio: 7 Artists], at Galeria Cândido Portinari/UERJ
1993 - Curitiba PR - 2ª Mostra de Escultura João Turin [2nd João Turin Sculpture Exhibition], at Museu de Arte do Paraná
1993 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Diversidade [Diversity], at MNBA
1993 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Paixão do Olhar [Passion of the Gaze], at MAM/RJ
1994 - Curitiba PR - Arte Contra Aids [Art Against AIDS], at MAC/PR
1994 - Niterói RJ - Lúdicos, Lógicos, Lúcidos e Líricos [Playful, Logical, Lucid and Lyrical], at Galeria de Arte UFF
1994 - Porto Alegre RS - Arte Contra Aids [Art Against AIDS], at MAC/RS
1994 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Imagens Indomáveis [Untamable Images], at EAV/Parque Lage
1995 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - A Infância Perversa: fábulas sobre a memória e o tempo [Perverse Childhood: Fables on Memory and Time], at MAM/RJ
1995 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Coletivo - Singular [Collective - Singular], at Paço Imperial
1995 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Correspondências [Correspondences], at Paço Imperial
1995 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Romance Figurado [Figured Romance], at MNBA
1995 - Salvador BA - 2º Salão MAM-Bahia [2nd MAM-Bahia Salon], at MAM/BA
1995 - Salvador BA - A Infância Perversa: fábulas sobre a memória e o tempo [Perverse Childhood: Fables on Memory and Time], at MAM/BA
1996 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Dois anos de Escultura no Paço [Two Years of Sculpture at the Paço], at Paço Imperial
1996 - São Paulo SP - 15 Artistas Brasileiros [15 Brazilian Artists], at MAM/SP
1996 - São Paulo SP - Antarctica Artes com a Folha [Antarctica Arts with Folha], at Pavilhão Manoel da Nóbrega
1996 - São Paulo SP - Camargo Vilaça Bis, at Galpão do Design
1997 - Barra Mansa RJ - O Museu Visita a Galeria [The Museum Visits the Gallery], at Centro Universitário de Barra Mansa
1997 - Curitiba PR - A Arte Contemporânea da Gravura [Contemporary Printmaking], at Museu Metropolitano de Arte de Curitiba
1997 - New York (United States) - The New Museum Donation Auction, at New Museum of Contemporary Art
1997 - Porto Alegre RS - 1ª Bienal de Artes Visuais do Mercosul [1st Mercosul Visual Arts Biennial], at Fundação Bienal de Artes Visuais do Mercosul
1997 - Porto Alegre RS - Último Lustro [Last Lustrum], at DC-Navegantes
1997 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 15 Artistas Brasileiros [15 Brazilian Artists], at MAM/RJ
1997 - Salvador BA - Workshop 97: artistas alemães e brasileiros [Workshop 97: German and Brazilian Artists], at MAM/BA
1997 - São Paulo SP - Apropriações Antropofágicas [Anthropophagic Appropriations], at Itaú Cultural
1997 - São Paulo SP - Intervalos [Intervals], at Paço das Artes
1997 - São Paulo SP - Tridimensionalidade na Arte Brasileira do Século XX [Three-Dimensionality in 20th-Century Brazilian Art], at Itaú Cultural
1998 - Berlin (Germany) - Um Olhar Brasileiro [A Brazilian Gaze], at Haus der Kulture der Welt
1998 - Fortaleza CE - Ceará e Pernambuco: dragões e leões [Ceará and Pernambuco: Dragons and Lions], at Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura
1998 - Miami (United States) - Present Absent, at The Centre Gallery
1998 - Penápolis SP - Tridimensionalidade na Arte Brasileira do Século XX [Three-Dimensionality in 20th-Century Brazilian Art], at Itaugaleria
1998 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Coleção MAM Bahia: arte contemporânea [MAM Bahia Collection: Contemporary Art], at MAM/RJ
1998 - São Paulo SP - Além do Arco-Íris [Beyond the Rainbow], at MAB/Faap
1998 - São Paulo SP - Antarctica Artes com a Folha: trabalhos recentes [Antarctica Arts with Folha: Recent Works], at Galeria Casa Triângulo
1998 - São Paulo SP - Fronteiras [Frontiers], at Itaú Cultural
1999 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - A Imagem do Som de Chico Buarque [The Image of Sound of Chico Buarque], at Paço Imperial
1999 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Os 90 [The 90s], at Paço Imperial
1999 - São Paulo SP - Nordestes [Northeasts], at Sesc Pompéia
2000 - Belo Horizonte MG - Casa de Todos II [Everyone's House II], at Museu Mineiro
2000 - Curitiba PR - Corporal, at Ybakatu Espaço de Arte
2000 - Curitiba PR - Imagens em Questão [Images in Question], at Galeria da Caixa Econômica Federal
2000 - Lisbon (Portugal) - Com um Oceano Inteiro Para Nadar [With a Whole Ocean to Swim], at Culturgest
2000 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - A Imagem do Som de Gilberto Gil [The Image of Sound of Gilberto Gil], at Paço Imperial
2000 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brasilidades [Brazilianities], at Centro Cultural Light
2000 - Santiago de Compostela (Spain) - Últimas Aquisições [Latest Acquisitions], at Centro Galego de Arte Contemporánea
2000 - São Paulo SP - A Figura Humana na Coleção Itaú [The Human Figure in the Itaú Collection], at Itaú Cultural
2000 - São Paulo SP - Cá Entre Nós [Just Between Us], at Paço das Artes
2000 - São Paulo SP - Os Anjos Estão de Volta [The Angels Are Back], at Pinacoteca do Estado
2000 - Valencia (Spain) - 3ª Convocatoria Jóvenes Artistas [3rd Young Artists Open Call], at Galeria Luis Adelantado
2001 - Belém PA - 20º Salão Arte Pará [20th Arte Pará Salon], at Museu do Estado do Pará
2001 - Berlin (Germany) - Emergentes [Emerging], at Embaixada do Brasil na Alemanha
2001 - New York (United States) - O Fio da Trama [The Thread of the Weave], at El Museo del Barrio
2001 - New York (United States) - The Thread Unraveled: contemporary brazilian art [The Thread Unraveled: Contemporary Brazilian Art], at El Museo del Barrio
2001 - Nuoro (Italy) - Pay Attention Please, at Museo D'arte Nuoro
2001 - Pamplona (Spain) - Ahi Donde Vivimos [There Where We Live], at Sala de las Armas
2001 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - A Imagem do Som de Antônio Carlos Jobim [The Image of the Sound of Antônio Carlos Jobim], at Paço Imperial
2001 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Espelho Cego: seleções de uma coleção contemporânea [Blind Mirror: Selections from a Contemporary Collection], at Paço Imperial
2001 - São Paulo SP - Auto-Retrato o Espelho do Artista [Self-Portrait, the Artist's Mirror], at Galeria de Arte do Sesi
2001 - São Paulo SP - Auto-Retrato o Espelho do Artista [Self-Portrait, the Artist's Mirror], at Galeria de Arte do Sesi
2001 - São Paulo SP - Espelho Cego: seleções de uma coleção contemporânea [Blind Mirror: Selections from a Contemporary Collection], at MAM/SP
2001 - São Paulo SP - Idéia Coletiva [Collective Idea], at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2001 - São Paulo SP - Primeiro de Abril - April Fool's Day, at Residência/atelier na Rua Mário, 25 - Vila Romana
2002 - Buenos Aires (Argentina) - The Thread Unraveled: contemporary brazilian art [The Thread Unraveled: Contemporary Brazilian Art], at Museo de Arte Latinoamericano de Buenos Aires
2002 - Gelnhausen (Germany) - Emergentes [Emerging], at Kunsthaus Schuster Gelnhausen
2002 - Havana (Cuba) - Brasileños Contemporáneos [Contemporary Brazilians], at Centro de Arte Contemporáneo Wifredo Lam
2002 - Liverpool (United Kingdom) - Pot
2002 - Niterói RJ - A Recente Coleção do MAC [The Recent MAC Collection], at MAC/Niterói
2002 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Andar com Fé... [Walking with Faith...], at Galeria Sesc Copacabana
2002 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Caminhos do Contemporâneo 1952-2002 [Paths of the Contemporary 1952-2002], at Paço Imperial
2002 - São Paulo SP - Mostra de Galerias [Galleries Exhibition], at Oca
2002 - São Paulo SP - Paralela, at Galpão localizado na Avenida Matarazzo, 530
2002 - São Paulo SP - Pop Brasil: a arte popular e o popular na arte [Pop Brazil: Popular Art and the Popular in Art], at CCBB
2002 - São Paulo SP - Pot, at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2002 - São Paulo SP - Rotativa Fase 2 [Rotativa Phase 2], at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2003 - London (United Kingdom) - Gambiarra: new art from Brazil [Gambiarra: New Art from Brazil], at Gasworks Gallery
2003 - Recife PE - Salão da Bahia 1994 - 2002 [Bahia Salon 1994 - 2002], at Fundação Joaquim Nabuco
2003 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Grande Orlândia: artistas abaixo da linha do equador [Greater Orlândia: Artists Below the Equator], at Rua Bela, 148 até Rua General Bruce, 230
2004 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Novas Aquisições 2003: Coleção Gilberto Chateaubriand [New Acquisitions 2003: Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection], at MAM/RJ
2004 - São Paulo SP - Bazar de Verão [Summer Bazaar], at Galeria Fortes Vilaça
2005 - Fortaleza CE - Efrain Almeida and Maurício Coutinho, at Centro Dragão do Mar de Arte e Cultura
2005 - São Paulo SP - O Corpo na Arte Contemporânea Brasileira [The Body in Contemporary Brazilian Art], at Itaú Cultural
Source: Itaú Cultural
