ANA CALZAVARA: BEYOND THE HORIZON

The idea of ​​an idyllic nature, which invites contemplation, in contrast to a control system, a radar that sees and inspects everything, permeates the reflections of the new show by artist Ana Calzavara. It is Beyond the Horizon, a solo show that debuts on February 17 at Galeria Marília Razuk, in which the artist presents to the public an unprecedented set of paintings, digital prints (images manipulated by herself) and wood engravings - some of which were engraved by artist herself, and others, reinterpretations of the "carving by hand" of previous works, now made with a laser machine, proposing a reflection between manual and mechanical gesture.

There are works that are very relational, such as the painting Revoada (2021), from which Ana unfolds the original image into several others (digital images and engraving) and in this way the meaning is composed from the interaction of various media, more or less materials, which result in different perceptions. “What in painting is almost a romantic image is diluted in fingerprints”, explains the artist. In this and other works, Ana Calzavara combines antagonistic references and invites the visitor to experience the same.

The title of the exhibition alludes to the well-known song by Brazilia singer Roberto Carlos that brings the imagination of an untouchable place, to be reached for the full enjoyment of the pleasure of being in the midst of nature. Simultaneously, it also alludes to Over The Horizon, a high-tech radar system restricted to a few countries - Brazil among them. Located in the extreme south of the country, on a beach that is difficult to access and controlled by the Brazilian Navy, the system detects targets and movements over long distances, tens of thousands of kilometers, beyond the visual horizon.

“This counterpoint of desire and impossibility caught my attention. And it is also a synonym for situations that we experience daily, especially in this moment of 'waiting' for the world and, even more, for Brazil in relation to the presidential elections at the end of this year. More than that, it brings a reflection of art itself as a thick, deeper experience”, reflects Ana Calzavara.

The artist's conception of Beyond the Horizon is also based on readings of works by authors Byung Chun-Han, Liv Strömquist and Ben Lerner. These authors, in particular ways, also reflect on the impact of digital media on our lives, transforming our behavior, our perception and our thinking. Art is a fundamental place in these times, able to greatly strengthen our contemplative capacity and at the same time lead us to a state of presence and criticality.

About the artist

Ana Calzavara was born in 1971 in Campinas, São Paulo. Her work is developed through different media such as painting, engraving, photography and more recently, video. Although distinct expressions, they propose a dialogue with each other, and often result in hybrid works. This characteristic of liminal states, of 'being in between', can be thought not only by the use he makes of different languages ​​in his works, but also by the formal resolutions and his own conceptual axis – the variety in how he approaches the landscape reveals a space that it is always on the verge of falling apart and, even when there is the presence or dialogue of other media such as photography, what we actually see is a process of dissolution of the referent.

She holds a BA in Visual Arts from the State University of Campinas (1992), a postgraduate degree in Painting from the Byam Shaw School of Art, London (1998) and a Master and PhD in Visual Poetics from the University of São Paulo (2012). Her work has already been shown in exhibitions in Brazil and abroad, such as the solo shows at Casa da América Latina, Brasíia, DF (2018); at the Museum of Image and Sound, São Paulo, SP (2006); at Casa da Dona Yayá, São Paulo, SP (2006) and at Centro Cultural São Paulo, São Paulo, SP (2000).

She has also participated in group shows such as Xilo: Corpo e Landscape, at SESC Pinheiros, São Paulo, SP (2019); 4 artists from São Paulo, Instituto Moreira Salles, Poços de Caldas, MG (2019); Zureta - International Contemporary Printed Art Exhibition and Symposium, Tokyo, Japan (2018); To be, inhabit and imagine, Concrete Space, Miami; VIII Premio Arte Laguna, at the Arsenale in Venice, Italy (2014); 8th Biennale internationale d’estampe contemporaine de Trois-Rivière, Canada (2013); PRINTED, at the Pratt Institute, New York, USA (2008); L'art roman vu du Brésil, Anzy-le-Duc, France (2006); National Printing Exhibition, London, United Kingdom (1998), among others.

In 2017, she launched the book Ana Calzavara – entremeios, a publication by Editora da Universidade de São Paulo (Edusp) that brings together 20 years of her production, including paintings, engravings and photographs.

His works are part of the collections of institutions such as the Douro Museum, Portugal; Tokyo University Museum, Japan; Museum of Image and Sound of São Paulo (MIS); Museum of Contemporary Art of Rio Grande do Sul (MAC-RS); Paraná Museum of Contemporary Art (MAC-PR); Museum of Contemporary Art of Santo André, SP; University of São Paulo (USP) and the Olho Latino Museum, Atibaia, SP.