Bathed by the bright light of the sunset

3+1  Arte Contemporânea is pleased to present banhados pela luz brilhante do pôr do sol |Bathed by the bright light of the sunset
by Carlos Noronha Feio.

The paintings and drawings presented for the upcoming exhibition are a further exploration of themes from the series Native People of the Pacific world. The artists´ personal dialogues with history are revealed in compositions using digitally printed black and white photographs marked with layers of painted lines and forms representing dispositive to embellish and subvert the image beneath, and in doing so, question the subject revealing the tensions present in its construction.

These compositions oscillate between a seemingly idealistic framework and what is fundamentally abstract painting, causing conflicting dichotomies and inviting the viewer to question the subjects as an evolving contemporary discourse — while often becoming distracted by the painted shapes that are seemingly absent of meaning.

Informed by events in history it becomes evident that the figures depicted are unable to escape their contexts, even if momentarily they appear able to do so. Such is the case with the manner in which the applied paint attempts to lead/ misguide the eye, by covering or exposing the image below, it is as though there is some connection between the two, the photographic background and the paint allowing one to determine the parallels between them.

Within the constructed artifice of the works it seems one is lead to ponder the dual relationships present in the pieces, while considering them under the banner of being bathed by the bright light of the sunset.

Image attached: Carlos Noronha Feio, Native People of the Pacific World: dispositif XXXI (detail), 2015, Oil and gouache on printed Hahnemühle Monet canvas, 74 x 53 cm. Courtesy of the artist and 3+1 ARTE CONTEMPORÂNEA