Vilma Gold

Alexandre da Cunha

Vilma Gold is pleased to present the first London solo exhibition by Alexandre da Cunha. Entitled Colorama the exhibition comprises of new sculpture and wall-based works.

As part of the 50 th Venice Biennale, in 2003, Alexandre da Cunha presented a group of sculptures constructed from simple domestic objects, such as brooms, mops and sleeping bags. Each of these utilitarian objects was stripped of its original use value and combined to form a series of makeshift shelters and abodes. Da Cunha's work appeared as an attempt to mimic the zoo-like structure offered by the international biennale as a temporary home for conflated exotic geographical provinces. Colorama sees da Cunha continue his interest in the manipulation of elements reclaimed from low, folk and mass culture. However rather than re-presenting utilitarian objects in a metamorphosed but equally utilitarian state these quotidian elements are now presented as rarefied and discreet works of art.

For Colorama da Cunha will display a series of flowerpots formed from worn out car tyres and wheels. Whilst this type of reclamation is commonly practiced in South America it is unusual to find examples decorated in patterns and motifs that reference high-modernist art. In a similar transformation Colorama will also include wall-based works that masquerade as abstract geometric painting. Each of these works has been crafted from fabrics taken from common deck chairs. The result can be seen as a movement from mass culture to high art in the snip of a pair of scissors. The final element of Colorama will be a series of framed paper works depicting icons from Brazilian popular culture. Da Cunha purchased the works on paper from street traders in Sao Paulo who use the paper to illustrate cheap products that transfer magazine images to t-shirts. From the 100 or so that da Cunha purchased only a small selection will be presented.

Da Cunha was born in Brazil and left the country 7 years ago. His work often presents the viewer with a notion of the exotic played out through the micro-economies found in the poorer districts of his native country. In general the objects he appropriates are those that have fallen out of the mainstream economy - objects that now transgress specific use and are traded on the street and in flea markets and junkshops. To date da Cunha's work has reinvested these prosaic semi-retired objects with a sense of purpose such as the hockey stick that becomes a crutch or the old t-shirts and golf clubs that become a tent.

Alexandre da Cunha lives and works in London. His work has been exhibited widely internationally in both museums and galleries. In 2003 Alexandre da Cunha participated in the 50 th Venice Biennale. Amongst other exhibitions this year his work will be included in the 2 nd Prague Biennale, Prague followed by a solo museum show at Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte.

For further information or images please contact Sarah McCrory:
+44(0) 20 8981 3344 or: sarah@vilmagold.com

Installation view
Alexandre da Cunha

Alexandre da Cunha
Deck Painting IV, 2005
Deckchair fabric over stretcher
122 x 92 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Can I Live, 2004
skateboards and mixed media
112 x 124 x 134 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Untitled (vanilla), 2005
scented candles
100 x 100 x 100 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Platinum I, 2005
metal household utensils
220 x 30 x 30 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Glaze (savana), 2005
Car wheel and tyre, paint, wooden plinth
120 x 60 x 60 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Deck Painting I, 2004
Deckchair fabric over stretcher
121 x 77 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Deck Painting II, 2005
Deckchair fabric over stretcher
109 x 133 x 3 cm

Alexandre da Cunha
Deck Painting V, 2005
Deckchair fabric over stretcher
122 x 210 cm