Odilla Mestriner (Ribeirão Preto SP 1928 - idem 2009)
Draftswoman and painter.
Between 1955 and 1956, she studied at the Escola Municipal de Belas Artes de Ribeirão Preto [Ribeirão Preto Municipal School of Fine Arts], where she was a pupil of Domenico Lazzarini (1920 - 1987). At that time she set up her studio and showed her works at the Exposição do Centenário de Ribeirão Preto [Ribeirão Preto Centenary Exhibition] in 1956. The main characteristics of her production were defined at that moment: an interest in drawing, with its lines and textures, and urban themes. She held her first solo exhibition at the Piccola Galeria of the Instituto Italiano de Cultura in Rio de Janeiro in 1959. The artist used various techniques, such as acrylic painting, drawing, watercolor and India ink. Throughout her artistic career, Mestriner remained linked to her hometown. Among other awards, she received the Best Draftsman Award from the Associação Paulista dos Críticos de Arte - APCA [São Paulo Association of Art Critics] in 1973. She took part in every edition of the Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [São Paulo International Biennial] between 1959 and 1969, receiving the Itamaraty acquisition prize that year. In 1987, a book by Jacob Klintowitz on her production was published by Editora Raízes. Retrospectives were held: Odilla Mestriner: releitura gráfica 1958/1978 [Odilla Mestriner: Graphic Reinterpretation 1958/1978] at the Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo - MAC/USP in 1983; and the Retrospective at the Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto, together with the publication of the catalogue Odilla Mestriner e a arte em Ribeirão Preto [Odilla Mestriner and Art in Ribeirão Preto], with a text by the art historian Tadeu Chiarelli, in 1994.
Critical Commentary
Odilla Mestriner's work features careful graphic work and plays of symmetry and the reflection of images and modules. In some canvases, faces frequently appear, organized in convex or concave forms, successively repeated.
As the art historian Tadeu Chiarelli notes, Odilla Mestriner combines two predominant tendencies: the attempt to express feelings and the choice of line and drawing as opposed to color. In her first works, from the late 1950s onward, she drew her themes from the environment around her, which also proved oppressive: the house, with its walls, windows and doors, and the city, treated geometrically as a succession of streets or blocks.
The artist produces rigorous, incisive lines, presenting spaces rigidly constructed with orthogonals. When she uses the human figure, she breaks it down and reworks it constructively, using it as a formal element. Devices such as symmetry and geometric rhythm in her compositions emphasize the expressive aspects of her work. In her oeuvre, the permanence of themes and formal resources stands out, as well as the subjective and emotional appeal.
Later, the artist began to place more emphasis on color instead of rigorous drawing, and India ink gave way to lithography and watercolor. In recent production, she presents acrylic-on-canvas works in which she uses a broader and more luminous chromatic range than in her earlier works, maintaining a dialogue with the production of artists such as Antonio Henrique Amaral (1935 - 2015) and Lasar Segall (1891 - 1957), as in Homenagem a Segall, Série Bananal V [Homage to Segall, Bananal Series V] (1999).
Critiques
"It is truly a matter of making an initial inventory of what surrounds us. Odilla Mestriner, an inhabitant of a restricted circle, initially located outside the great culture-producing cities of the country, far from the Rio-São Paulo axis, the dynamic hub of artistic activity, turned to what surrounded her. The first observation was the house. And the house understood conventionally as a defined horizon line. Odilla accepts the conventionality of this view, but perceives, on the other hand, the meaning of the dwelling for man, the cultural content of this representation, the psychic involvement and affectivity. For Odilla, too, lives in a changing world and has witnessed destructive world conflicts, threats of apocalypse, totalitarianism and organized death. Kafka is the prophet of this era. The house has a value, in this case, of an individual character, a defense and protection against the very community of men. A curiosity of the era. The community comes to be understood as a center of power and, consequently, of oppression. These values are present for the artist. Her houses, formally, use the simplified geometry of constructivism".
Jacob Klintowitz
KLINTOWITZ, Jacob. Odilla Mestriner. São Paulo: Raízes, 1987.
Solo Exhibitions
1959 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Solo, at Piccola Galeria do Instituto Italiano de Cultura
1965 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Seta
1973 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Galeria Astréia
1975 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Paço das Artes
1979 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1981 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1981 - São Paulo SP - Paisagens: tempos simultâneos [Landscapes: Simultaneous Times], at Galeria Sesc Paulista
1982 - São Paulo SP - Odilla expõe pinturas e aquarelas [Odilla Shows Paintings and Watercolors], at Galeria Ars Artis
1983 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Odilla Mestriner: releitura gráfica 1958/1978 [Odilla Mestriner: Graphic Reinterpretation 1958/1978], at Galeria Campus USP - Banespa
1984 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at MAC/USP
1985 - Campinas SP - Solo, at Galeria de Arte Unicamp
1986 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Solo, at Itaugaleria
1986 - São Paulo SP - Solo, at Espaço Cultural Chap-Chap
1988 - Brasília DF - Solo, at Itaugaleria
2002 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Dois Momentos / Um espaço [Two Moments / One Space], at Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto Pedro Manuel-Gismondi
Group Exhibitions
1959 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão de Arte de Belo Horizonte [Belo Horizonte Art Salon]
1959 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Salão Nacional de Arte Moderna [National Salon of Modern Art]
1959 - São Paulo SP - 5ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [5th São Paulo International Biennial], at Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo Sobrinho
1960 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Salão Nacional de Arte Moderna [National Salon of Modern Art] - encouragement prize
1960 - São Paulo SP - 9º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [9th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art], at Galeria Prestes Maia
1960 - São Paulo SP - Contribuição da Mulher às Artes Plásticas no País [Women's Contribution to Visual Arts in the Country], at MAM/SP
1960 - São Paulo SP - Prêmio Leirner de Arte Contemporânea [Leirner Prize for Contemporary Art], at Galeria de Arte das Folhas - 2nd prize in drawing
1961 - Curitiba PR - Salão Paranaense de Belas Artes [Paraná Fine Arts Salon]
1961 - São Paulo SP - 10º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [10th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art], at Galeria Prestes Maia
1961 - São Paulo SP - 6ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [6th São Paulo International Biennial], at Pavilhão Ciccillo Matarazzo Sobrinho
1962 - São Paulo SP - 11º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [11th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art], at Galeria Prestes Maia - bronze medal
1963 - Maryland (United States) - Coletiva de Artistas Brasileiros [Group Show of Brazilian Artists], at Gallery Four Planets de Maryland
1963 - São Paulo SP - 1ª Exposição do Jovem Desenho Nacional [1st Young National Drawing Exhibition], at Faap
1963 - São Paulo SP - 1ª Exposição do Jovem Desenho Nacional [1st Young National Drawing Exhibition], at MAC/USP - acquisition prize
1963 - São Paulo SP - 7ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [7th São Paulo International Biennial], at Fundação Bienal
1964 - Belo Horizonte MG - 1ª Exposição do Jovem Desenho Nacional [1st Young National Drawing Exhibition], at MAP
1964 - Curitiba PR - 21º Salão Paranaense de Belas Artes [21st Paraná Fine Arts Salon], at Biblioteca Pública do Paraná - bronze medal
1965 - Campinas SP - Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas [Campinas Contemporary Art Salon] - encouragement prize
1965 - Curitiba PR - 22º Salão Paranaense de Belas Artes [22nd Paraná Fine Arts Salon], at Biblioteca Pública do Paraná
1965 - São Paulo SP - 14º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [14th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art], at Galeria Prestes Maia - acquisition prize
1965 - São Paulo SP - 8ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [8th São Paulo International Biennial], at Fundação Bienal
1966 - Curitiba PR - Salão Paranaense de Belas Artes [Paraná Fine Arts Salon]
1966 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Salão Nacional de Arte Moderna [National Salon of Modern Art]
1966 - São Paulo SP - 15º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [15th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art], at Galeria Prestes Maia - small silver medal
1967 - Campinas SP - 3º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas [3rd Campinas Contemporary Art Salon], at MACC
1967 - São Paulo SP - 9ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [9th São Paulo International Biennial], at Fundação Bienal
1967 - São Paulo SP - Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [São Paulo Salon of Modern Art]
1968 - Campinas SP - 4º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas [4th Campinas Contemporary Art Salon], at MACC
1968 - Campo Grande MS - 28 Artistas do Acervo do Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo [28 Artists from the Collection of the Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo], at Diário da Serra
1968 - Piracicaba SP - Salão de Arte Moderna [Modern Art Salon]
1968 - Salvador BA - 2ª Bienal Nacional de Artes Plásticas [2nd National Visual Arts Biennial]
1968 - São Paulo SP - 17º Salão Paulista de Arte Moderna [17th São Paulo Salon of Modern Art]
1969 - Fortaleza CE - 28 Artistas do Acervo do Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo [28 Artists from the Collection of the Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo], at Centro de Artes Visuais Raimundo Cela
1969 - Piracicaba SP - Salão de Arte Moderna [Modern Art Salon] - silver medal
1969 - Santo André SP - 2º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [2nd Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1969 - São Paulo SP - 1º Salão Paulista de Arte Contemporânea [1st São Paulo Contemporary Art Salon], at Masp
1969 - São Paulo SP - 10ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [10th São Paulo International Biennial], at Fundação Bienal - Itamaraty acquisition prize
1970 - Campinas SP - 6º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Campinas [6th Campinas Contemporary Art Salon], at MACC
1970 - Santo André SP - 3º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [3rd Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1970 - São Paulo SP - Pré-Bienal de São Paulo [São Paulo Pre-Biennial], at Fundação Bienal
1971 - Belo Horizonte MG - Salão de Arte de Belo Horizonte [Belo Horizonte Art Salon]
1971 - Santo André SP - 4º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [4th Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1971 - São Paulo SP - 6 Artistas do Interior [6 Artists from the Interior], at Paço das Artes
1971 - São Paulo SP - 3º Panorama de Arte Atual Brasileira [3rd Panorama of Current Brazilian Art], at MAM/SP
1972 - Santo André SP - 5º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [5th Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1972 - São Paulo SP - 2ª Exposição Internacional de Gravura [2nd International Print Exhibition], at MAM/SP
1972 - São Paulo SP - Contribuição da Mulher às Artes Plásticas do País [Women's Contribution to the Country's Visual Arts], at MAM/SP
1972 - São Paulo SP - Mostra de Arte Sesquicentenário da Independência e Brasil Plástica - 72 [Art Exhibition for the Sesquicentennial of Independence and Brasil Plástica - 72], at Fundação Bienal
1973 - Brussels (Belgium) - Imagem do Brasil [Image of Brazil]
1973 - Curitiba PR - 30º Salão Paranaense [30th Paraná Salon], at Teatro Guaíra
1973 - Fairfield (United States) - Iramar and Bel Gallery
1973 - São Paulo SP - 12ª Bienal Internacional de São Paulo [12th São Paulo International Biennial], at Fundação Bienal
1974 - Santo André SP - 7º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [7th Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1974 - São Paulo SP - 6º Panorama de Arte Atual Brasileira [6th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art], at MAM/SP
1975 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Salão de Artes Plásticas de Ribeirão Preto [Ribeirão Preto Visual Arts Salon] - 1st prize
1975 - Santo André SP - 8º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [8th Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1976 - São Paulo SP - Bienal Nacional 76 [National Biennial 76], at Fundação Bienal
1977 - São Paulo SP - 9º Panorama de Arte Atual Brasileira [9th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art], at MAM/SP
1978 - Piracicaba SP - Salão de Arte Moderna [Modern Art Salon]
1979 - Curitiba PR - 1ª Mostra de Desenho Brasileiro [1st Brazilian Drawing Exhibition] - acquisition prize
1979 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Dez Artistas Plásticos da Cidade [Ten Visual Artists of the City], at Itaugaleria
1979 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - 2º Salão Nacional de Artes Plásticas [2nd National Visual Arts Salon], at MAM/RJ
1980 - São Paulo SP - 12º Panorama de Arte Atual Brasileira [12th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art], at MAM/SP
1981 - São Paulo SP - 2º Salão Paulista de Artes Plásticas e Visuais [2nd São Paulo Salon of Plastic and Visual Arts], at Paço das Artes
1982 - São Paulo SP - 15 Artistas: grupo 2 [15 Artists: Group 2], at Galeria Sesc Paulista
1983 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Exposição Pró Sinfônica de Ribeirão Preto [Exhibition in Support of the Ribeirão Preto Symphony], at Itaugaleria
1984 - São Paulo SP - Grupo Ribeirão [Ribeirão Group], at Paço das Artes
1985 - São Paulo SP - 100 Obras Itaú [100 Itaú Works], at Masp
1986 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Salão de Artes Plásticas de Ribeirão Preto [Ribeirão Preto Visual Arts Salon] - special mention
1987 - São Paulo SP - Releitura [Reinterpretation], at Blue Life Galeria de Arte
1988 - Goiânia GO - Coletiva Ribeirão Preto [Ribeirão Preto Group Show], at Itaugaleria
1988 - São Paulo SP - Mulher: espírito e matéria [Woman: Spirit and Matter], at Paço das Artes
1991 - Santos SP - 3ª Bienal Nacional de Santos [3rd Santos National Biennial], at Centro Cultural Patrícia Galvão
1991 - São Paulo SP - O Que Faz Você Agora Geração 60?: jovem arte contemporânea dos anos 60 revisitada [What Are You Doing Now, 1960s Generation?: Young Contemporary Art of the 1960s Revisited], at MAC/USP
1992 - Ribeirão Preto SP - Modernidade/Experimentalismo [Modernity/Experimentalism], at USP. Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto
1993 - Santo André SP - 21º Salão de Arte Contemporânea de Santo André [21st Santo André Contemporary Art Salon], at Paço Municipal
1998 - Araraquara SP - 12º Salão de Artes Plásticas de Araraquara [12th Araraquara Visual Arts Salon], at Casa de Cultura Luiz Antonio Martinez Corrêa
1998 - Rio de Janeiro RJ - Arte Brasileira no Acervo do Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo: doações recentes 1996-1998 [Brazilian Art in the Collection of the Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo: Recent Donations 1996-1998], at CCBB
2002 - São Paulo SP - Cidadeprojeto / cidadeexperiência [Cityproject / Cityexperience], at MAM/SP
Source: Itaú Cultural
