A DM Mendes Wood We are pleased to present the exhibition. Birth & Standardization de Antonio Oba, which occupies the entire gallery space in Barra Funda with new and emblematic works. The works, developed using distinct techniques such as painting, drawing, installation, and film, continue the artist's investigation into the construction of national identity, and its contradictions and influences, through icons and symbols present in Brazilian culture.
The exhibition's title stems from the idea of birth as a marker of a moment, of a new existence on Earth. This miraculous event also carries the counterpart of fortune and luck, which accompanies us from conception. For Obá, “Being subject to this is not about a choice. Being subject to this is about an irreverence towards the inevitable. So, what we can do is demarcate these various fortunes through rite, celebration, symbol, and language.”
Each work that makes up the exhibition contributes to this attempt to situate the idea of luck, fortune, sometimes as a prayer, sometimes as a ritual that celebrates it.
An unprecedented installation, located in an enclosed space at the back of the gallery, directly refers to the idea of play and luck. In it, columns of cowrie shells spill over gilded bronze sieves, carrying ceramic eggs painted red. The cowrie shells represent elements of an attempt to read luck, destiny, and fate, and symbolize the currency of exchange, which also transforms into an offering. In their arrangement within the space, the cowrie shells form ascending columns, like a territory of spiritual elevation and re-signification of life in the face of its potentially fatalistic aspects.
At the entrance to the exhibition space, a path of swords representing Saint George and Iansã leads to a new installation: an altar with two tree trunks symbolizing the pillory. The trunks are entirely studded with nails—in one, the nails point outwards; in the other, inwards—symbolizing protection and punishment and the difficulty of harmonizing tensions. Between the pillories, cables suspend a bronze head with a plumb bob at the tip. This installation is an offering to the lord of the path, therefore, it has a connection with Exu.
the installation Ka'a porá (2024), presented for the first time in the traveling exhibition Finca-Pé: Stories of the Land At the CCBB in Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Brasília, it occupies a prominent place in the exhibition. Sculptures of feet, representing both the human foot and that of a tree, emphasize the connection with the ground. The configuration of the work resembles a small garden, with trunks arranged in a seemingly random way, each suggesting a different direction within a labyrinth. The title of the installation derives from the Tupi term. ka'a porá, which refers to an individual who settles and anchors themselves to the land. The expression also alludes to the mythical figure of Caipora, protector of the forests in Brazilian indigenous mythology. Another symbolic element of the installation revisits the concept of pruning, understood here as an act of violence that breaks with life and nature.
Paintings of varying sizes and techniques compose the visual narrative of the exhibition. A set of 22 small-format paintings presents Obá's interpretation of the Tarot. In these works, the artist uses a mixture of techniques along with gold leaf, giving a unique magical and fantastical tone to the oracle cards. In addition to these, the exhibition includes new large-scale paintings, as well as a work painted directly onto one of the walls of the exhibition space. In these pieces, figures and symbols that make up Brazilian identity suggest new interpretations. The exhibition also includes previously unseen drawings made with charcoal, India ink, pencil, and tempera on canvas.
The film Charmed (2024) presents a performance by the artist that proposes reflections on symbolic systems — especially religious ones. The performative action evokes a ritualistic perspective, centered on the figure of the pilgrim, who, in his gesture, synthesizes elements of belief, culture and tradition associated with the imagery of the pilgrim.
With this collection of works, which spans different media and symbolisms, the exhibition reaffirms the power of Antonio Obá's production in constructing a poetics that investigates identity, territory, and spirituality.
Service
Exhibition Birth
From November 8th March 14, 2026
Tuesday to Friday, from 11 am to 19 pm, Saturday from 10 am to 17 pm
