Antonio Dias

de Achille Bonito Oliva, Antonio Dias, Paulo Duarte, Alexandra Waldman

Antônio Manuel Lima Dias, painter, engraverr, sculptor, multimídia artist and academic, was born in Campina Grande, Paraíba, in 1944. He studied engraving with Oswaldo Goeldi in the workshop "Atelier Livre de Gravura" of the National School of Fine Arts. He has lived for short or long stays, in Campina Grande, Rio de Janeiro, Paris, Milan, New York, Nepal, Cologne, Karlshue, where he has conformed and reconfigured many workshops. the volume moves through the many phases of his varied practice, from his early experimentation at age 19 with visual representations of protest--before the 1964 military coup and at Brazilœs political and social climax--to his conceptual production in Milan, his early film work, his works on paper developed in Nepal and the painting practice that has continued throughout his life. One of Brazilœs most versatile artists, Dias creates work that transcends borders and nationalities--as he himself states, having worked in Rio, Milan and Paris, "anywhere is my land"--and yet, few books are available on him in English. This hardcover volume, with over 400 images, changes that, offering an introduction to a canonical Brazilian artist.