Fernando Augusto dos Santos Neto (Itanhém BA 1960)
Painter, draftsman and teacher.
In 1978, in the Bahia town of Medeiros Neto, he founded the Grupo Molière de Teatro [Molière Theater Group], for which he directed and adapted several plays. He moved to Belo Horizonte in 1981 and graduated in visual arts from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG) [Federal University of Minas Gerais] in 1987. He received a travel grant from the Goethe Institut and left for Germany in 1989. Two years later, he became an adjunct professor at the Universidade Estadual de Londrina (UEL) [State University of Londrina], where since 2005 he has been a visiting professor, in charge of painting, drawing and photography courses. He completed a master's degree in communication and semiotics at the Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo (PUC/SP) [Pontifical Catholic University of São Paulo] in 1995. In 2000, he earned his doctorate from the same institution in the same field, as well as the Diplôme des Études Approfondies (DEA) from the Université Paris I - Sorbonne. He has also collaborated with the Fundação Universidade do Contestado (UnC) [University of Contestado Foundation] in Santa Catarina since 2004, and has been a full professor at the Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo (Ufes) [Federal University of Espírito Santo] since 2005.
Critical Commentary
Fernando Augusto had already worked with theater, drawing and printmaking when, in 1991, he held the solo show Um Lugar para Homens e Animais [A Place for Men and Animals]. In the paintings shown there, Augusto sought to bring the time and space of comics into the visual arts and, to that end, gave the exhibition a narrative character.
In 1993, he exhibited mixed-media works on paper in which he overlaid drawing, painting and collage, using notes kept over the years. Based on these works, he began dealing with issues related to memory and to the exposure of his own working process. In works such as Livro Vermelho [Red Book], 1996, he expanded his research, using envelopes of letters he had received as supports and intervening on them with India ink and drypoint lines.
The paintings made from 1996 onward explore softer tones and diluted colors. In them, Augusto uses charcoal to write and draw on the canvas. The critic Agnaldo Farias observes that in these works mists, fogs and darkness belong equally to the realms of the visible and the pictorial, and that this observation is necessary to grasp the core of Fernando Augusto's painting: painting as a territory of equivalence among various visual languages.
In 2000, Augusto held a solo show in which he presented, in addition to drawing and painting, photographs and objects. In this exhibition, he continued the theme of the layers of time involved in the artistic process and its difficulties, a question that runs through all of his production.
Critiques
"This is not the case with Fernando Augusto. First of all because drawing, although much repressed by Art History as well as by the market, or precisely because of that, has always had this unstable, momentary character, moving between periods and trends without losing its timeliness, being in fact much more a process, a state of mind or even an atmosphere than a clearly defined technique, a creative methodology. That is to say, what is permanent in drawing is its very precariousness, to the point of incorporating into its poetics, as if it were something finished, the croquis, the sketch, the child's scribble, street graffiti, the note, the unconscious doodling amid other everyday activities. For drawing, as Mário de Andrade wrote, is 'less a plastic reality than a spiritual comfort' or, as I also once wrote, drawing is something you start here, leave there, return to later, somewhere else and on another support, as if it were poetry in its pure state, capturing and expressing the very dis-continuity of life, with its ebbs and flows. There is always, in drawing, a sense of urgency, existential or engaged, which can either 'arm the hand' in protest or bring to the surface of the paper the racing of the heart or of the soul".
Frederico Morais
"From his initial painting, very graphic and dramatic, the artist launched into a strong and sensual abstraction, and last year, after a course at the Winter Festival with Carlos Fajardo, he embarked on the adventures of matter painting, changes of support and materials, a certain delirium in gesturalism; nothing prevented him, in this interlude, from now and then returning, even if in disguise, to the figuration of his early days. In a healthy disharmony, the artist thus fulfilled a calendar of successive experiments, which undoubtedly revitalized his creative process. And, in the present show, Fernando Augusto mixes certain components of this varied process, in an attempt to convey the pulse of his working dynamics. And he succeeds in the undertaking, insofar as he reveals himself as a promoter and planner of multiple facets of current art".
Celma Alvim
FERNANDO Augusto: arte para quê? pintura e objetos. Apresentação de Celma Alvim. Belo Horizonte: Itaugaleria, 1989.
Solo Exhibitions
1984 - Belo Horizonte MG - Solo, at Galeria da Aliança Francesa
1987 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1988 - Brasília DF - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1989 - Belo Horizonte MG - Solo, at Galeria do IAB - Instituto dos Arquitetos do Brasil
1989 - Belo Horizonte MG - Solo, at Itaú Cultural
1989 - Mannheim (Germany) - Die Verbotene Frage Stellen [Asking the Forbidden Question], at Goethe Institut
1991 - Belo Horizonte MG - Solo, at Palácio das Artes
1991 - Belo Horizonte MG - Um Lugar para Homens e Animais [A Place for Men and Animals], at Palácio das Artes - Sala Arlindo Corrêa
1991 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1992 - Londrina and Curitiba PR - Solo, at Galeria Banestado
1993 - Belo Horizonte MG - Fragmentos de um Diário [Fragments of a Diary], at Cemig Espaço Cultural Galeria de Arte
1993 - Recife PE - Solo, at Museu de Arte de Pernambuco
1994 - Belo Horizonte MG - Solo
1995 - Florianópolis SC - Diário de Frequência: pintura e desenho [Frequency Diary: Painting and Drawing], at Masc
1995 - São Paulo SP - Diário de uma Passagem: uma poética do desenho (dissertação de mestrado) [Diary of a Passage: a Poetics of Drawing (Master's Thesis)], at Paço das Artes
1995 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Sesc Paulista
1996 - Curitiba PR - Formas Brancas [White Forms], at Museu Teodoro de Bona
1996 - Londrina PR - Diário de uma Passagem [Diary of a Passage], at Museu de Arte de Londrina
1997 - Curitiba PR - Desenhopintura [Drawingpainting], at Ybakatu Espaço de Arte
1997 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Nara Roesler
1998 - Berlin (Germany) - Desenhos e Pinturas [Drawings and Paintings], at Galerie Barsikov
1998 - Recife PE - Pinturas e Desenhos [Paintings and Drawings], at Amparo 60 Escritório de Arte
1999 - Curitiba PR - Solo - UFPR, at Sala Arte, Design & Cia
2000 - Paris (France) - Dialogue Difficile, at Galerie Debret
2002 - Curitiba PR - Fernando Augusto: pintura e desenho [Fernando Augusto: Painting and Drawing], at Ybakatu Espaço de Arte
2002 - Porto Alegre RS - Aparelhos [Devices], at Galeria Iberê Camargo
Group Exhibitions
1982 - Belo Horizonte MG - Anual dos Alunos da Escola de Belas Artes - UFMG [Annual Students' Exhibition of the UFMG School of Fine Arts]
1983 - Belo Horizonte MG - Anual dos Alunos da Escola de Belas Artes - UFMG [Annual Students' Exhibition of the UFMG School of Fine Arts]
1984 - Curitiba PR - Mostra do Desenho Brasileiro [Brazilian Drawing Exhibition]
1984 - Goiânia GO - Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Goiânia [Goiânia National Visual Arts Salon] - Belkis Spenciere de Mendonça Prize
1984 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 9º Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea de Ribeirão Preto [9th Ribeirão Preto National Contemporary Art Salon] - award winner
1984 - Viçosa MG - 7º Salão Nello Nuno da Universidade Federal de Viçosa [7th Nello Nuno Salon of the Federal University of Viçosa] - acquisition prize
1985 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Integrarte da Escola de Belas Artes da UFMG [Integrarte Salon of the UFMG School of Fine Arts] - Cenex-Fale Prize
1985 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Belo Horizonte [Belo Horizonte National Visual Arts Salon]
1985 - Curitiba PR - 42º Salão Paranaense [42nd Paraná Salon], at MAC/PR
1985 - Governador Valadares MG - 2º Salão de Artes Plásticas de Governador Valadares [2nd Governador Valadares Visual Arts Salon] - Commerce and Industry Nominal Prize
1985 - Montes Claros MG - 7º Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Montes Claros [7th Montes Claros National Visual Arts Salon] - acquisition prize
1985 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 10º Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea de Ribeirão Preto [10th Ribeirão Preto National Contemporary Art Salon] - award winner
1986 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Integrarte da Escola de Belas Artes da UFMG [Integrarte Salon of the UFMG School of Fine Arts] - acquisition prize
1986 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Belo Horizonte [Belo Horizonte National Visual Arts Salon] - Sociedade Amiga da Cultura Prize
1986 - Belo Horizonte MG - Sete Manias [Seven Manias], at Itaú Cultural
1986 - Curitiba PR - 43º Salão Paranaense [43rd Paraná Salon], at MAC/PR
1986 - Curitiba PR - 7ª Mostra da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba [7th Curitiba City Printmaking Exhibition], at Casa da Gravura Solar do Barão
1986 - Curitiba PR - 7ª Mostra do Desenho Brasileiro [7th Brazilian Drawing Show], at MAC/PR
1986 - Goiânia GO - Coletiva Arte Sobre Papel [Art on Paper Group Show], at Museu de Arte de Goiânia
1987 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 12º Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea de Ribeirão Preto [12th Ribeirão Preto National Contemporary Art Salon] - award winner
1987 - São Paulo SP - Homem de Corpo Fechado [Man with a Closed Body], at Galeria Itaú Cultural
1987 - Viçosa MG - 8º Salão Nello Nuno da Universidade Federal de Viçosa [8th Nello Nuno Salon of the Federal University of Viçosa] - acquisition prize
1988 - Belo Horizonte MG - África Gerais [Africa Gerais], at Museu Mineiro
1988 - Brasília DF - O Muro [The Wall], at Galeria Itaú Cultural
1988 - Olinda PE - 41º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco [41st Pernambuco Contemporary Art Salon], at Centro de Convenções de Pernambuco
1988 - Recife PE - Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea [National Contemporary Art Salon]
1988 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 13º Salão de Arte de Ribeirão Preto [13th Ribeirão Preto Art Salon], at Casa da Cultura de Ribeirão Preto
1989 - Belo Horizonte MG - Arte Para Quê? [Art for What?], at Itaú Cultural
1989 - Belo Horizonte MG - Panorama da Arte Contemporânea [Contemporary Art Panorama], at Palácio das Artes
1990 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Integrarte da Escola de Belas Artes da UFMG [Integrarte Salon of the UFMG School of Fine Arts] - grand prize
1990 - São Paulo SP - 6º Salão Paulista Ibirapuera [6th Ibirapuera São Paulo Salon]
1991 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas de Belo Horizonte [Belo Horizonte National Visual Arts Salon]
1991 - Curitiba PR - 48º Salão Paranaense [48th Paraná Salon], at MAC/PR
1991 - Curitiba PR - 9ª Mostra do Desenho Brasileiro [9th Brazilian Drawing Exhibition], at Sala de Exposições do Teatro Guaíra - award winner
1991 - Curitiba PR - Mostra do Desenho Brasileiro [Brazilian Drawing Exhibition] - award winner
1991 - Curitiba PR - Salão Nacional de Arte de Curitiba [Curitiba National Art Salon] - grand prize travel award
1991 - São Paulo SP - Um Lugar para Homens e Animais [A Place for Men and Animals], at Galeria Itaú Cultural
1992 - Recife PE - 43º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Pernambuco [43rd Pernambuco Contemporary Art Salon], at Museu do Estado de Pernambuco
1993 - Belém PA - 2º Salão Paraense de Arte Contemporânea [2nd Pará Contemporary Art Salon] - acquisition prize
1993 - Recife PE - Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea [National Contemporary Art Salon] - honorable mention
1993 - Ribeirão Preto SP - 18º Salão Nacional de Arte Contemporânea de Ribeirão Preto [18th Ribeirão Preto National Contemporary Art Salon]
1993 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 13º Salão Nacional de Arte da Funarte [13th Funarte National Art Salon]
1993 - São Paulo SP - 1º Salão Prêmio Gunther de Pintura [1st Gunther Painting Prize Salon], at MAC/USP
1993 - São Paulo SP - Prêmio Gunther [Gunther Prize], at MAC/USP
1994 - Belém PA - 13º Salão Arte Pará [13th Arte Pará Salon], at Fundação Rômulo Maiorana
1994 - Belo Horizonte MG - Desenviver [Unliving], at Galeria Itaú Cultural
1994 - Curitiba PR - Suite Vollard, Picasso: uma interpretação paranaense [Vollard Suite, Picasso: a Paraná Interpretation], at Museu de Arte do Paraná
1994 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 14º Salão Nacional de Arte da Funarte [14th Funarte National Art Salon] - acquisition prize
1994 - Salvador BA - 1º Salão MAM-Bahia de Artes Plásticas [1st MAM-Bahia Visual Arts Salon], at MAM/BA
1995 - Curitiba PR - 52º Salão Paranaense [52nd Paraná Salon], at MAC/PR
1995 - Florianópolis SC - Diário de Frequência [Frequency Diary], at Masc
1995 - Santo André SP - 23º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [23rd Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1995 - São Paulo SP - 2º Salão Prêmio Gunther de Pintura [2nd Gunther Painting Prize Salon], at MAC/USP
1996 - Belém PA - 15º Salão Arte Pará [15th Arte Pará Salon], at Museu de Arte de Belém
1996 - Belém PA - 2º Salão Unama de Pequenos Formatos [2nd Unama Small Formats Salon], at Universidade da Amazônia - Galeria de Arte
1996 - Cascavel PR - Vento Sul: 3ª mostra de artes visuais integração do cone sul - Centro de Artes Visuais [South Wind: 3rd Southern Cone Integration Visual Arts Exhibition - Visual Arts Center], at Museu de Arte de Cascavel
1996 - Cascavel PR - 3º VentoSul: mostra de artes visuais integração do Cone Sul [3rd South Wind: Southern Cone Integration Visual Arts Exhibition], at Museu de Arte
1996 - Cuenca (Ecuador) - 5ª Bienal Internacional de Pintura de Cuenca-Equador [5th Cuenca International Painting Biennial - Ecuador]
1997 - Belém PA - Arte Pará: fronteiras [Arte Pará: Frontiers], at Museu de Arte de Belém
1997 - Belo Horizonte MG - Prospecções: Arte nos Anos 80 e 90 [Prospections: Art in the 80s and 90s], at Palácio das Artes
1997 - Florianópolis SC - 5º Salão Nacional Victor Meirelles [5th Victor Meirelles National Salon], at Masc
1998 - Curitiba PR - 55º Salão Paranaense [55th Paraná Salon], at Casa Andrade Muricy
1998 - Florianópolis SC - 6º Salão Nacional Victor Meirelles [6th Victor Meirelles National Salon], at Masc
1998 - São Paulo SP - 3º Projeto Abra/Coca-Cola de Arte Atual [3rd Abra/Coca-Cola Current Art Project], at CCSP
1999 - Londrina PR - Group show, at Sala Antonio Teodoro
1999 - Santo André SP - 27º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [27th Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1999 - Santo André SP - Salão de Arte de Santo André [Santo André Art Salon]
2002 - Curitiba PR - Obras do Faxinal das Artes [Works from Faxinal das Artes], at MAC/PR
2003 - Curitiba PR - Horizonte Nômade [Nomadic Horizon], at Museu Metropolitano de Arte de Curitiba
Source: Itaú Cultural
