Sonia Gomes

de Amanda Carneiro, Raphael Fonseca

This catalog supplements two monographic exhibitions with Brazilian artist Sonia Gomes hosted by Museu de Arte Contemporânea (MAC), in Niterói, and Museu de Arte de São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP), in São Paulo. Exhibition on the work of the extraordinary Afro-Brazilian sculptor Sonia Gomes (born 1948) traces the path of this artist who, by transforming found and donated materials such as fabric and wire by twisting, tying and sewing, creates sculptures that describe her history as an artist of African descent. The title of the book, Sonia Gomes: a vida renasce/ainda me levanto [Sonia Gomes: Life is Reborn/Still I Rise] is a combination of the two separate exhibition's titles: A vida renasce, sempre [Life is Reborn, Always], in Niteroi and, Ainda assim me levanto [Still I Rise], in São Paulo. The exhibitions showcase Gomes' extraordinary contribution to the language of contemporary sculpture and can be viewed as complementary. The show at MAC Niteroi brings together artworks spanning almost twenty years of her career; whilst in São Paulo, a new set of works was specially commissioned for MASP and Casa de Vidro. The MAC Niterói exhibition - curated by Pablo León de la Barra and Raphael Fonseca - presents 38 artworks from different periods that reveal Gomes' dedication to developing consistent series, such as Pendentes [Pendants] and Torções [Torsions]. In São Paulo, the exhibition - curated by Amanda Carneiro - represents the first partnership between MASP and Casa de Vidro/Instituto Bardi, showcasing new developments in Gomes' sculptural practice, which now incorporates branches and tree trunks, referencing her main new series: Raiz [Root]. This publication reproduces all the artworks presented in both exhibitions, as well as introducing brand new essays by noted art critics and curator.