hélio oiticica

I PERSONIFY REVOLT

A Purple Peace issue had to pay tribute to Hélio Oiticica, who believed that art only came alive when shared. A pioneer of the Neo-Concrete art movement and Tropicalismo, he replaced the art object with lived experience. His Parangolés — painted and layered capes worn in dance and movement — celebrated the energy of Brazil’s favelas and samba communities while dissolving the boundaries between art, life, and protest. In doing so, he transformed participation into an act of freedom and peace. Dead at only 42, Oiticica became one of Latin America’s most celebrated artists. — PURPLE

 

All artwork copyright and courtesy of César and Claudio Oiticica