Norma Grinberg: A Journey to Diversity and Freedom, 2023
This exhibition aims to contribute to human rights education, promoting respect for diversity and human dignity. The installation, composed of sculptural works in a poetic, sensitive, and contemporary language, offers an opportunity to reflect on the situation of individuals, refugees, minorities, and gender in the world. The ceramic pieces refer to living bodies: Humans, Animals, and Flights.
The Humanoid sculptures are arranged sometimes alone, sometimes in groups, facing the same direction, in exodus. They are mythological creatures with anthropomorphic gestures. They allude to runaways and migrations, retreatants and immigrants. In remembrance of the 6 million Jews, as well as other persecuted people, killed in Nazi concentration camps.
The Animals are creations from the artist’s fantastic universe. The indigenous motifs they carry on their “skin” bring an environmental dimension to the installation and reflect on the importance of the presence of original cultures in the formation of the country.
The Flights are suspended volumes in the shape of colorful, blue, earthy wings. In contrast to the Humanoids, rooted to the earth, they allude to freedom and transcendence, hope and peace.
The suitcase is an heirloom object, once belonging to the artist’s father, a Holocaust survivor and immigrant in Brazil. Its presence in the installation goes beyond the personal meaning to symbolize all the people forced to flee in the contemporary world and in the past. These people’s hard work, cultural richness, and diversity built, and continue to build, countries and nations.
The architectural construction, lighting, and continuous, circular sound collaborate to create the exhibition’s immersive atmosphere.
