Exhibition celebrating Rio de Janeiro features artwork by Victor Arruda

Presenting works by artists from different generations and practices, the exhibition "O desejo de uma cidade: 1904-2024" [The Desire of a City: 1904-2024] is an ode to the city of Rio de Janeiro, which will celebrate its 460th anniversary in 2025. At the same time, it encompasses the period experienced by the city since the birth of Roberto Marinho. 

Curated by Marcia Mello, Lauro Cavalcanti, and Victor Burton, the 139 selected works range from paintings to graphic design pieces, offering diverse perspectives on the city. The exhibition space also includes 76 large-format photographs of the wonderful city, architectural models of projects that have reshaped it, as well as poems and texts by notable Brazilian literary figures such as Clarice Lispector and Vinícius de Moraes. 

To propose a dialogue between works by Tarsila do Amaral, Ricardo Teixeira, Glauco Rodrigues, Djanira, Heitor dos Prazeres, Rivane Neuenschwander, and Ismael Nery, among others, the exhibition is organized into thematic sections. One of them, "Body," begins with the painting “As gêmeas” [The Twins] (2013/2024) by Victor Arruda. A draftsman, engraver, and painter with over 40 years of artistic trajectory, Arruda is part of a generation of artists who emerged in Rio de Janeiro in the 1980s. He gained significant interest from art critics with his figurative painting, marked by a humorous approach and expressionist tone. 

“We brought works that simultaneously exalt and challenge the beauty of Rio," explains Laura Cavalcanti. "O desejo de uma cidade: 1904-2024" [The Desire of a City: 1904-2024] features works from the collections of Instituto Casa Roberto Marinho, Museu de Arte do Rio – MAR, Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Instituto Moreira Salles, Projeto Hélio Oiticica, Fundação Casa de Rui Barbosa, Cinemateca Brasileira, and from private collectors. 

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Exhibition: "O desejo de uma cidade: 1904-2024" [The Desire of a City: 1904-2024]
Location: Instituto Casa Roberto Marinho
R. Cosme Velho, 1105 - Cosme Velho, Rio de Janeiro/RJ
Open until July 21st, 2024