lost in brazil
photos by Kirsten Larsen

the mission:
Travel to São Paulo Brazil and bring back three First Nations masks carved by the late master carver Beau Dick.
Coming to this place, I understood the underlying importance of this trip, the masks, the artist and the place they come from, all stood for something. The political climate in Brazil is very tense, especially when it comes to the Amazon native tribes. The new government is ready and willing to annihilate their indigenous people for profit and in the eyes of this government, art is worthless.

The three masks had been apart of the Brazilian Biennale, curated by internationally acclaimed curator Marcello Dantas and his team at Madai Art.

the artist
Quite easily one of the most prolific West Coast artists of our time. Before his passing in 2017, First Nations artist Beau Dick perpetuated the ceremonial traditions of his people for more than three decades. The story of Beau’s life and art has been developed into a feature-length documentary film entitled, Maker of Monsters.

“Beau Dick’s remarkable masks have been celebrated across the global art scene as vibrant expressions of West Coast Indigenous Culture and a sophisticated crossover into the Contemporary Art World.”
When I arrived in São Paulo, I could feel the heaviness of it all, a city of haves and have nots, and the writing was on the walls, literally, nearly every street and building is covered in legal and illegal art. A living, breathing tapestry of sights, sounds and smells, São Paulo is a city filled with art and everywhere I looked a story was being told.
The juxtaposition of its new buildings intertwined with slums and worn out places add to its charm. Nothing can break you out of your comfort zone faster, than wandering in a neighbourhood, in a city, in a country you have never been to before, looking for a coffee shop and very few people understand what you are saying. But I made it work and I connected and adapted to my surroundings, taking it all in.

I had been warned about this place, several times over before arriving. I had heard about the kidnappings, the muggings at gun point, I was told to not wear any nice jewlery or take photos in public. But after getting lost for hours, all of that fear melted away.

the galleries
One of the highlights of this trip was going to as many galleries as possible, scouting for art and artists, which was easy. Every district I went to was home to at least three major galleries, all diverse in quality and style. Every piece of art that I came across, especially in the streets was nothing like I’d seen before, it was raw, it was real, and it all had purpose.
​
Gallery:
Mendes Wood ~ DM | Located in Jardim Paulista
Featured artists: Solange Pessoa and Rubim Valentim
Gallery:
Casa Triangulo | Located in Jardim Paulista
Featured artists: Albano Afonso, Assume Vivid Astro Focus & Sandra Cinto
Gallery:
Beco Do Bataman | Located in Villa Maddalena
An outdoor public art gallery where three alley ways intersect. Every inch is covered in art, Beco Do Batman holds an overwhelming amount of the best street art from around the world.
Gallery:
Galleria Eduardo Fernandes | Located in Villa Maddalena
Featured artists: Claudia Melli & Sergio Lucena
Gallery:
Galeria Millan Anexo | Located in Villa Maddalena
Featured artist: Rafael Alonso
Gallery:
OCA | Located near Villa Mariana
A guided tour of the highly acclaimed Ai Wei Wei Exhibtion.
Gallery:
MAM | Located near Villa Mariana
A guided tour of the current São Paulo Biennale.
My time in Brazil was a whirlwind and an experience of a life time. The masks arrived with me safe and sound, and were returned to Fazakas Gallery here in Vancouver.

I would like to thank Marcello Dantas & Barrie Mowatt for this incredible opportunity and Luiza Testa and Tarsila Riso for taking such great care of me and showing me the many sides of São Paulo’s art scene, the food and the culture.