Mário Cravo Neto: A Serene Expectation of Light
‘I am not black, white or red
I have the colours and shapes of my choice
I am no the devil or a saint, I am éxù!
– Mário Cravo Neto
Contrast is a central concept within Neto’s work, juxtaposing both humans and animals, light and dark as part of his exploration of diversity within the human form. In the first solo exhibition of Neto’s work in the UK, the influential Brazilian photographer draws inspiration from an intimate fascination with the complex cultural heritage of Bahia in northeast Brazil. The blend of two incongruent cultures, rich 17th Century colonial architecture and flamboyant South American hedonism, provide the foundations for Neto’s work. The infusion of scared symbols with street photography creates a collection of multi-layered images, each giving a unique insight into the inherent tension between humanity and spirituality.
Neto, the son of acclaimed sculptor Mário Cravo Júnior, is considered one of Brazil’s most important photographers, celebrated for his contribution to contemporary Brazilian photography long after his death in 2009. Comprising of two series of photographs, The Eternal Now and Laroyé, the white walls of Autograph ABP dance to life with the Neto’s vibrancy of subject matter and evocative compositions. The black and white studio portraits from The Eternal Now subvert traditional aspects of portraiture, with the cleverly placed inanimate objects and animals appearing part of the human body.
The curious selection of images make a thought provoking opening, as your eyes dart from one photo to the next attempting to separate human from non-human forms. Neto never features a full profile, and despite the images being taken in a studio, the manipulation of space instils a tactile quality reminiscent of still life paintings. In ‘Man with Two Fish’ the familiarity of the human body is distorted with the fish becoming the focus point and the male figure merely an abstract form. Neto uses composition to create figurative shapes to inject a sense of animalism into his work, bringing to the forefront the animalistic tendencies that are present within all of us.
On the opposing side of the gallery space the earthy colours and Afro-Brazilian culture injects an element of vibrancy. The street photography captures everyday life in Salvador, with the movement and energy in each image almost transporting you to the bustling streets of Neto’s native city. Neto captures a real sense of African rituals, a religious practise that to Western eyes is appears completely alien making his work all the more provocative.
By juxtaposing the sombre, fragility of The Eternal Now with the market stalls and carnival dissipation pictured in Laroyé, Neto takes you on a cultural journey whilst exploring the bounds of the genre. The exhibition becomes a rich documentary interweaving material and spiritual worlds to present a snapshot of Brazilian urban life that is in stark contrast to Western society, alongside challenging perceptions of the human form.
A Serene Expectation of Light is now open at Autograph ABP, Rivington Place, London.
15 January – 2 April
http://autograph-abp.co.uk/
