Intervention by the (se)cura humana Collective at the Opening of the "Where There's Smoke" Exhibition at the Museu do Ipiranga
At the opening of the exhibition "Where There's Smoke – Art and Climate Emergency" at the Museu do Ipiranga on November 4th, the artistic collective (se)cura humana will present the intervention "Urban River Bather." This live performance will complement the audiovisual installation "Mergulhos" ("Dives"), one of the works featured in the exhibition's collective program, curated by the Micrópolis collective.
Opening Performance:
Artists Flavio Barollo, Odacy Oliveira, and Wellington Tibério will move throughout the event dressed as urban river bathers of the present time – 2024.
The performance aims to evoke an imagination of river balneability in a metropolis like São Paulo, while confronting the audience with the reality of polluted waters. This intervention highlights the colonial and exploitative relationship that shapes the use of rivers in the Global South's major cities. It offers a critique of the logic of environmental exploitation and degradation perpetuated in former colonies, provoking a sense of estrangement about what we have made of ourselves and inviting reflection on possible actions for regeneration.
The “Mergulhos” Videoinstallation
In addition to the opening intervention, the (se)cura humana collective presents the immersive videoinstallation “Mergulhos” in the space dedicated to the collective within the exhibition. The works "Mergulho no Rio Tietê," "Mergulho no Rio Anhanguera," and "Mergulho no Rio Guatá Porã" will be shown simultaneously, using three video sources circulating between them.
These videoperformances document the artists bathing in polluted rivers, exploring the connections between body, river, and urbanization. The installation creates an immersive environment where the imagery of these actions interweaves, resonating with the themes raised by the group. The work also reflects on progress and technology, incorporating the impact of Artificial Intelligence in recreating (im)possible worlds.
About (se)cura humana
Combining art, activism, and urban intervention, (se)cura humana is a collective founded by Flavio Barollo and Wellington Tibério, focused on issues such as the water crisis, ecological colonialism, and environmental racism. Their practices encompass performances, videos, documentaries, installations, and urban occupations, expanding the debate on the relationship between art, nature, and city life.
Among the collective's notable works are "Corpo Árvore" (Tree Body), "Piscina do Fim do Mundo" (End of the World Pool), "Simulação de um Levante" (Simulated Uprising), and "Parque Aquático Móvel" (Mobile Water Park). The actions of (se)cura humana are recognized for provoking reflection and proposing new forms of coexistence and resistance in the face of environmental degradation.
More info: www.securahumana.com
Instagram: @securahumana
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Service Information
Exhibition: Onde há fumaça – Arte e emergência climática / Where There's Smoke – Art and Climate EmergencyOpening: November 4, 2024 (exclusive event for invited guests)
Exhibition Dates: November 5, 2024 – February 28, 2025Hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10 AM – 5 PM (last entry at 4 PM)Location: Temporary Exhibition Hall – Museu do Ipiranga, Av. Nazaré, S/N, Ipiranga, São Paulo – SPAdmission: Free (for this exhibition only)
About the Exhibition
Burning eyes, dry throats, stinging nostrils, and suffocating lungs – human life is at risk. The path once considered essential for a better world is now challenged by wildfires, floods, extreme temperatures, and air dryness. This exhibition questions the dominant idea of progress, which has led to the current climate emergency.
Curated by the Micrópolis collective – composed of architects and researchers Felipe Carnevalli, Marcela Rosenburg, and Vítor Lagoeiro – the exhibition brings together the Museu do Ipiranga's historical collection with contemporary works to shed light on the processes of environmental and social degradation throughout Brazil’s urban development.
Paintings and photographs by masters such as Benedito Calixto and Henrique Manzo engage in dialogue with the works of contemporary artists, including Alice Lara, André Vargas, Bruno Novelli, davi de jesus do nascimento, Anderson Kary Bayá, Jaime Lauriano, Luana Vitra, Mabe Bethônico, Roberta Carvalho, (se)cura humana, Uýra Sodoma, and Xadalu Tupã Jekupé. The juxtaposition invites reflection on how the colonization of land and nation-building have been shaped by the notions of civilization versus barbarism and possible culture versus impossible nature.
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