Gregório Gruber (Santos SP 1951)
Gregório Gruber is a painter, draftsman, engraver, sculptor, set designer and photographer. He began his artistic training in 1965, with piano and musical theory courses at Fundação Armando Álvares Penteado (FAAP) and harpsichord classes at Pró-Arte. In 1969, he attended the drawing course with Frederico Nasser and also produced films in Super-8. In 1971, he interrupted his architecture course at the Faculty of Architecture of Universidade Presbiteriana Mackenzie and started to attend lithography and metal engraving classes, at the Mário Gruber studio and at Socorro Metal Engraving Course, respectively. He joined FAAP's Fine Arts course in 1972, leaving him the following year.
In 1974, he traveled to Paris, where he took drawing classes at the Académie de la Grande Chaumière. In the same year, he held his first solo exhibition at the São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand Art Museum (MASP). In 1975, he did internships in Graphic Arts and Photography at Ateliê Mário Gruber and, the following year, became responsible for the Vivo Modelo Drawing course at the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (PESP).
In 1976, He was awarded the award for best engraving by the São Paulo Association of Art Critics (APCA). In 1986, he edited the book Bodas de Sangue, with drawings based on the film by Carlos Saura. The following year, he acted as a set designer for the play Dresso de Noiva, by Nelson Rodrigues, directed by Marcio Aurelio. Directed by Olívio Tavares de Araújo; An afternoon with Gregório (1987), by Nelson Pereira dos Santos; and Gregório (1992), produced by the Instituto Itaú Cultural.
Critical Comment
The name of Gregório Gruber is directly linked to urban views and scenes, especially the images of São Paulo such as Avenida São João, 1991, Major Sertório and Pacaembu, 1993. These are objective representations, almost photographic of the city, which leads critics to define their work as hyper-realism. In fact, Gruber's painting presents numerous affinities with photography, used, according to him, as "outline" and "part of the creation process". But other resources are also employed as means of screen construction. "I'm a very architect," he says. "I structure the paintings, I keep planning. I always start from the annotation, almost always in the notebook, then the watercolor comes, sometimes even the pastel, only then I go to the canvas with oil or acrylic".
The architectural vocation of the Painter presents himself in the project and also in the result of the work; After all, what the paintings reveal are constructions: houses, streets, avenues, viaducts and skyscrapers, caught at night or in daylight. The lines and plans of the city can be apprehended in a single glance, although the clarity of the image is generally disturbed on these surfaces, sometimes smoky, sometimes transparent, sometimes mirrored. The game of revelations and occultations, technically mobilized by the artist, compromises the verism of the scene, giving it ethereal, dreamlike and even surreal features. The metropolis is emptied of the flows and crowds that characterize it; only lines, volumes and scintillations.
Criticism
"(...) The emergence of Gregório in the current panorama of Brazilian art is very recent, although it has been drawing from a very early age. Realism of photographic approach, however, should not be considered a hyper-realistic one. Starting from photographic shots, he places the static atmosphere of loneliness and alienation in the big city in which he lives, São Paulo, which reminds us above all the painful dosage of the real in the painting of the North American Edward Hopper. In addition to replacing the middle-aged figures, frequent in this annunciator of pop art and contemporary realism, by young daily companions, including himself, still reasonably exempt from existential frustration, Gregory often Intensify with unreal weight the luminosities and scenographic brightness of their environments and scenes from São Paulo to a level avoided by Hopper, always economical and algid. Pastel - leans towards the fantastic in contrast to the metaphysical foundation of the American. But it is not a fantastic escape from the real, but of its intensification. These characters and atmospheres are well known to us, their strangeness does not require too much deciphering effort. They are only found in suspension, unprepared for the look that sees them now, from the other side of the concrete reality they were at a certain previous moment".
Roberto Pontual
Pontual, Roberto. January: Jornal do Brasil, 1976.
"The main theme of Gregório's creative work is the look. It is true that since he is an inhabitant of the city, what he sees around him, on the street, are automobiles, buildings, posts; Inside the house the objects and, in people, the gestures. Not being able to get lost in the distance, the gaze seeks to exercise the detail in what, due to urban circumstances, is inevitably close and, thus, what gains expressiveness is the fusion of small gestures and objects. This patient and silent, autobiographical look is not critical, it does not take sides with the reality that surrounds it until Gregory turns his gaze from certain scenes, preferring those that correspond more to his way of being. His gaze always seeks a certain type of image from which a halo of sadness or loneliness emanates and, for that, he prefers the dead hours of the city, the silence of interiors. On the other hand, in these moments, the streets and objects seem to acquire an 'inner life', reveal a presence that the artist seeks to transfer to the viewer. These images of the city began to appear, in his work, in the pastries of 1971, and progressed until the 1979 Biennial with the large acrylic paintings. 'Today', says the artist, 'these places cause me another kind of emotion. I feel them as compositions - plastic, situations that involve me with their sparkles and especially with the climate of scenery that modern constructions have' ".
Frederico Morais
MORAIS, Frederico. Paths of Brazilian Art. São Paulo: Júlio Bogoricin Imóveis, C. 1986.
Individual exhibitions
1974 - Campinas SP - Engravings, at Galeria Girassol
1974 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Pastéis, at Masp
1975 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Pastels, at Graffiti Art Gallery
1976 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Engravings, at Graffiti Galeria de Art
1976 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: watercolors, drawings and paintings, at MAB/FAAP
1977 - São Paulo SP - The artist on the bench: impressions, at MASP
1978 - Brasília DF - Gregório Gruber: Drawings, at Oscar Oscar Seraphico Art Gallery
1978 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Paintings and Watercolors, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1979 - Santos SP - Gregório Gruber: Drawings, at Tennis Club
1979 - São Paulo SP - Anatomies, at Galeria Luisa Strina
1980 - Porto Alegre RS - Gregório Gruber: Landscapes, in the shopping center gallery
1980 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1980 - São Paulo SP - Gregrório Gruber: Landscapes, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1981 - Brasília DF - Gregório Gruber: Drawings, at Oscar Seraphico Art Gallery
1982 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Oils and Pastéis, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1983 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Gregório Gruber: Pastéis, at GB Art
1983 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Bronzes, at the Art Gallery Rastro
1983 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Galeria Alberto Bonfiglioli
1983 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at Galeria SESC Paulista
1984 - São Paulo SP - Places: Paintings, Drawings, Photos, at Galeria Alberto Bonfiglioli
1986 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Blood Wedding, at Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim
1986 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Gregório Gruber: Pastéis e Video-Graphics, at Montesanti Galleria
1986 - São Paulo SP - Blood Wedding, at the São Paulo Art Office Paulo
1988 - São Paulo SP - Individual, at the São Paulo Art Office
1988 - São Paulo SP - Voyeur and the Bank, at Espaço d'Artefacto
1990 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber Engravings: Obras: on paper, at Morumbi Shopping
1993 - São Paulo SP - Individual, Galeria São Paulo
1993 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Paintings, papers, ceramics, at the São Paulo Art Office
1993 - São Paulo SP - Paintings, papers, ceramics, at Galeria São Paulo
1995 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Visions, N'a Hebrew
1996 - Poços de Caldas MG - Gregório Gruber: paintings, drawings and sculptures, at the Casa de Cultura de Poços de Caldas
1996 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Paintings, at Espaço OX
1996 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Paintings, Drawings and Sculptures, at Instituto Moreira Salles
2001 - São Paulo SP - Gregório Gruber: Paintings and Papers, at the Multiple Art Gallery
2002 - São Paulo SP - Individual, on the merchandise and futures exchange
Collective exhibitions
1970 - São Paulo SP - 4th Young Contemporary Art, at MAC/USP
1971 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1971 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Salão Paulista de Arte Contemporânea, at the Prestes Maia Gallery
1972 - Campinas SP - 8th Contemporary Art Salon of Campinas, at MACC - First Prize
1972 - Jundiaí SP - 3rd Jundiaiense Arts Meeting, at the Historical Museum and Cultural
1972 - São Paulo SP - 3rd Young Contemporary Art Salon at MAC/USP
1972 - São Paulo SP - Brazil Plastic Award 72, at the Bienal Foundation
1972 - São Paulo SP - 4th Salão Paulista de Contemporary Art, at MASP
1973 - Brussels (Belgium) - Image du Brésil, at the Manhattan Center
1973 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Some aspects of the Brazilian design, at the Ibeu Copacabana Gallery
1973 - Santos SP - 2nd Biennial of Fine Arts
1973 - São Paulo SP - 12th São Paulo International Biennial, at the Bienal Foundation
1974 - Belo Horizonte MG - Brazilian drawing 74, at Palácio das Arts
1974 - Brasília DF - Brazilian Drawing 74, at the Cultural Foundation of the Federal District
1974 - Campinas SP - 9th Contemporary Art Salon of Campinas, at MACC
1974 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Brazilian Drawing 74, at MAM/RJ
1974 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 6th Summer Salon, at MAM/RJ
1975 - Jundiaí SP - 4th Jundiaiense Arts Meeting
1975 - São Paulo SP - 6th Salão Paulista de Arte Contemporânea, at Biennal Foundation
1976 - Cali (Colombia) - 3rd American Biennial of Graphic Arts, at the Museo de Arte Moderno La Tertulia
1976 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Art Agora I - Brazil 70/75, at MAM/RJ
1976 - São Caetano do Sul SP - Contemporary Art 76, at the Fundação das Artes
1976 - São Paulo SP - Bienal Nacional 76, at Fundação Bienal
1976 - São Paulo SP - 8th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1977 - Belo Horizonte MG - 5th Global Winter Hall, at Fundação Palácio das Artes
1977 - Brasília DF - 5th Global Winter Hall, at the Cultural Foundation of the Federal District
1977 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 5th Global Winter Hall, at the MNBA
1977 - São Paulo SP - 5th Global Hall of Winter, at MASP
1977 - São Paulo SP - 9th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1978 - Buenos Aires (Argentina) - 15 Brazilian artists, at the Museum of Modern Art in Buenos Aires
1978 - Maldonado (Uruguay) - 2nd Bienal de Maldonado
1978 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 1st National Salon of Fine Arts, at the MNBA - Acquisition Award
1979 - Belo Horizonte MG - 11th National Art Salon
1979 - São Paulo SP - 15th São Paulo International Biennial, at the Bienal Foundation
1979 - São Paulo SP - 11th Panorama de Arte Current Brazilian, at MAM/SP
1980 - Paris (France) - Paris Biennial
1981 - São Paulo SP - Brazilian contemporary artists, at the São Paulo Art Office
1982 - Penápolis SP - 5th Salon of Northwest Plastic Arts, at the Penápolis Educational Foundation. Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Penápolis
1983 - São Paulo SP - 14th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1983 - São Paulo SP - Avenida Paulista, at Galeria Sesc Paulista
1983 - São Paulo SP - Palmeira, at the Alberto Bonfiglioli Gallery
1983 - São Paulo SP - 14th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1984 - São Paulo SP - The urban and industrial dimensions in Figurative painting from São Paulo, at Trace Art Gallery
1984 - São Paulo SP - Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection: Portrait and Self-Portrait of Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1985 - Penápolis SP - 6th Salon of Visual Arts of the Northwest, at the Educational Foundation of Penápolis. Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Penápolis
1985 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Velha Mania: Brazilian Drawing, at EAV/Parque Lage
1985 - São Paulo SP - Highlights of Brazilian contemporary art, at MAM/SP
1986 - São Paulo SP - A URBS in the vision of eight artists, at Galeria Montesanti Roesler
1987 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - To the collector: Homage to Gilberto Chateaubriand, at MAM/RJ
1987 - São Paulo SP - 18th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1987 - São Paulo SP - 20th Contemporary Art Exhibition, at Chapel Art Show
1987 - São Paulo SP - 18th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, at MAM/SP
1987 - São Paulo SP - Trama do Taste, at Fundação Bienal
1988 - São Paulo SP - Juréia, at Sadalla Galeria de Arte
1992 - Santo André SP - Lithogravure: Methods and Concepts, at the Municipal Palace
1992 - São Paulo SP - 60s/70s: Gilberto Chateubriand Collection - MAM/RJ, at the SESI Art Gallery
1993 - Santos SP - 4th National Biennial of Santos, at the Patrícia Galvão Cultural Center
1993 - São Paulo SP - The modern design in Brazil: Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection, at the SESI Art Gallery
1994 - Poços de Caldas MG - Collection Unibanco: Exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of Unibanco, at the Casa da Cultura de Poços de Caldas
1994 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - The modern design in Brazil: Gilberto Chateubriand Collection, at MAM/RJ
1994 - São Paulo SP - Bandeiras: 60 artists honor the 60th anniversary of USP, at MAC/USP
1994 - São Paulo SP - Bienal Brasil Século 20th, at the Bienal Foundation
1995 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Collection Unibanco: Exhibition commemorating the 70th anniversary of Unibanco, at MAM/RJ
1996 - São Paulo SP ? Bandeiras, at the SESI Art Gallery
1996 - São Paulo SP - OFF Bienal, at MuBE
1997 - São Paulo SP - A Cidade dos Artistas, at MAC/USP
1998 - São Paulo SP - Contemporary Art, at Sérgio Caribé Art Gallery
1998 - São Paulo SP - The modern and the contemporary in Brazilian art: Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection - MAM/RJ, at MASP
1999 - São Paulo SP - 8 Brazilian artists, at Sérgio Caribé Art Gallery
1999 - São Paulo SP - Lithography: Fidelity and Memory, at the Unicid Arts
2000 - São Paulo SP - The role of art, in the SESI Art Gallery
2000 - São Paulo SP - 9th São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon, at the Júlio Prestes Cultural Complex
2001 - São Paulo SP - Brazilian Art Museum: 40 years, at MAB/FAAP
2001 - São Paulo SP - History of light in Brazilian art, at Itaú Cultural
2002 - São Paulo SP - 8 contemporary Brazilian artists, at Casa das Rosas
2002 - São Paulo SP - Who does the biennials, at the Multiple Art Gallery
2003 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Project Brazilianart, at Almacén Art Gallery
2003 - São Paulo SP - Arte & Artists: Exhibition of the nineteen painters, at MASP. Prestes Maia Gallery
2003 - São Paulo SP - Israel and Palestine: Two States for Two Peoples, SESC/Pompeia
2004 - Campinas SP - Metropolis Collection of Contemporary Art, at the CPFL
2004 - São Paulo SP - 450 x 45, at Nova André Galeria
2004 - São Paulo SP - Collective of contemporary artists, at Esporte Clube Sírio
2004 - São Paulo SP - The price of seduction: do Corset for Silicone, at Itaú Cultural
Source: Itaú Cultural
