Editorial
On the street
Artists, raise your flags!
Felipe Molitor
1 Jun 2020, 5:23 pm
On April 22nd, a Wednesday that already seems distant amid the confusing temporality of social isolation, a flag was raised at Galeria Jaqueline Martins, in downtown São Paulo. Since then, several pennants-artworks rotate weekly on four masts, raised below the gallery’s large window, in a movement from the inside out, shown to the unlikely and democratic public on the streets. The strongly symbolic gesture is the expository departure of “Four Flags 2020” – temporary project by the gallery and Dutch curators Julia Mullié and Nick Terra for the current moment. Here, we collected some of the flags that have made an appearance there.
Above: Flags by Maria Monteiro, Mônica Nador and Thomaz Rosa.
Facade of Galeria Jaqueline Martins with flags of the project.
Flag by Maria Montero.
Flag by Mônica Nador.
The aim of the project is to stimulate artistic practice based on a specific medium and generate revenue opportunities so that artists can go through the period of isolation. In its program, Galeria Jaqueline Martins is already used to presents artists who are not part of its official team, and in the case of “Four Flags”, the care with a diverse curatorship is evident, paying special attention to artists without commercial representation.
Flag by Cibelle Cavalli Bastos.
Flag by Pedro França.
All flags are produced in editions of 4 + 1 artist proof and the sale price, set at R$ 800, is passed on in full to the participating artists: Aline Motta, Ana Lira, Ana Mazzei, André Parente, Amilcar Packer, Bruno Baptistelli, Caroline Valansi, cemfreio, Cibelle Cavalli Bastos, Daniel Albuquerque, Deyson Gilbert, Dudu Santos, Flora Rebollo, Gustavo Ferro, Ícaro Lira, Leopoldo Ponce, Luiza Crosman, Marilia Furman, Marga Ledora, Mônica Nador, Mônica Ventura, Marina Dalgalarrondo, Maria Noujaim, Maria Montero, Pedro França, Pontogor, Renata De Bonis, Santidio Pereira, Thomaz Rosa, Tatiana Della Bona and Vanessa da Silva.
Flag by Ana Mazzei.
Flag by Thomaz Rosa.
Flag by Cemfreio.
As the publicity of “Four Flags” itself indicates, the project is not limited to a temporary solution to the economic crisis opened up by the pandemic, suggesting a deeper reflection on how exhibitions and cultural projects occupy institutional spaces. At least in the Brazilian scene, commercial art galleries have acquired over the years a fundamental importance in the construction of a prolific artistic scenario, working for the circulation, legitimation and incentive to artistic practices. May this vocation be kept renewed.
Felipe Molitor is a journalist and art critic, part of the editorial team at SP–Arte.
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