The Strength of the Female Gaze: Nina Pandolfo at Lazarides Rathbone

Nina Pandolfo is one of Brazil’s most eminent artists working today. Pandolfo painted on the streets as a young girl in São Paulo, compelled by her impulse to create art for those who do not have the privilege of visiting galleries or museums.

Pandolfo was born in 1977 in São Paulo, Brazil, where she currently lives and works. She has exhibited in Germany, Cuba, Spain, the United States, France, Greece, India, England, Japan, Puerto Rico and Switzerland. She has also taken part in major projects including the Fendi Baguette Project and the Kelburn Castle Graffiti Project alongside fellow prominent Brazilian artists Os Gêmeos and Nunca.

She has since exhibited internationally with her work now found in established art institutions including the University of São Paulo’s Museum of Contemporary Art.

This month Lazarides Rathbone presents ‘Beyond Meninas’, her new solo show. The Brazilian artist will present a series of all new paintings at the gallery in conjunction with a new wall painting at The Old Truman Brewery.

In keeping with the Lazarides curatorial ethos of pursuing artist who refuse to be pigeon-holed, Pandolfo has a unique philosophy on how she sees her place in the art world

'When you label someone, you put this person into a box and therefore limit their potential to try and be something else, something more; you imprison their creativity and freedom. I prefer to be referred to just as an artist, rather than being categorised by practises. For example saying that I’m a “street artist” is restricting; I am not only a “street artist” nor am I a contemporary artist or even a craftsman. That is my choice. I just wish to keep doing my work, experiencing different avenues with different mediums with no preferences or attachments.'

Pandolfo reflects upon her own feminine sensibility to create artworks involving her signature girls with large, captivating eyes that combine childlike innocence, strength and innate sensuality. These artworks, whether found on canvas or brick wall, are typically occupied with symbolic imagery and animals, constructing a dreamlike world that her doe-eyed characters inhabit.

By placing these girls in the centre of the gaze does she seek to challenge traditional notions of femininity in her work?

She says 'I put myself 100% into my work. I love everything, everything that I have been through and have experienced, what I dream of and desire, love and admire, what I see. My surroundings are always reflected in my work. Being from a family where I am the youngest of 5 women I grew up in a world of females. For this particular show I wanted people to see my characters as women without any social or ethnic categorisations.'

For an artist who operates on an international stage, we wondered if Pandolfo has loyalty to one city in particular.

'All the cities I have been to influence me in one-way or the other. This is the case for both my personal life and my work. I have been to places where it is extremely difficult for an artist to get the material needed to work. I gave my brushes to a local artist once and years later I found out that he still had the same ones! Others have influenced me with printing, another with colours, another with experiences, every place has something special that translates into my work' she reflects.

Finally what would she like the viewer to take away from this show?

I hope they will see their enigmatic character, their complexity and their fragility. I hope that the viewers will consider them from a different angle and be able to see that my depictions are much more than just “women” and consider that there is a story behind everyone.

Nina Pandolfo

Beyond Meninas

Private View: Thursday 8th September 6-9pm

Exhibition runs: 9th September – 8th October 2016

Lazarides • 11 Rathbone Place • London • W1T 1HR • +44 (0)20 7636 5443 • www.lazinc.com