Matheus Rocha Pitta 2016/17
Matheus Rocha Pitta (born 1980 in Tiradentes, MG, Brazil) has spent much time over the past years investigating forms and perceptions of gestures. Focusing on the intersection in everyday life and art, he disconnects gestures from their individual biographical background and portrays them as deliberate aesthetic acts with a historical dimension. Rocha Pitta uses photography, video and sculpture to identify and construct his own repertoire of gestures, which he activates in conjunction with the visitors and spectators of his works. He has created several series of works – Primeira Pedra (The First Stone, 2015), no hay pan (There Is No Bread, 2015), Assalto (Assault, 2014), Golpe de graça (Blow of Grace, 2013) – that display gestures to explore language, possession and motion in a way that has far-reaching ethical implications.
Education/grants:
| 2015 | The Politics of Food, Delfina Foundation, London |
| 2014 | Stipendium Matadero EL Ranchito, Madrid Studio Arte Ginistrelle, Assisi |
| 2008 | 47° Salão de Arte de Pernambuco, Recife |
| 2007 | Iberê Camargo, Blanton Art Museum, Austin/Texas |
| 2003 | Salão de Arte Nacional de Belo Horizonte, Museu de Arte da Pampulha, Belo Horizonte |
| 2001–2004 | Degree in Philosophy, Universidade do Estado do Rio de Janeiro |
| 1998–2001 | Degree in History, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Niterói |
Selected solo exhibitions:
| 2015 | No Hay Pan, Gluck 50, Mailand Primeira Pedra, Mendes Wood DM, São Paulo |
| 2014 | Fé Experimental, Progetti, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2013–2016 | Golpe de Graça, Pivô, São Paulo; Casa França Brasil, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2013 | L‘Accordo, Fondazione Morra Greco, Neapel Nau, Progetti, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2012 | Giudizio Universale, Solo Project Artissima, Turin Conversão, Mendes Wood, São Paulo |
| 2010 | FF#2, Progetti, Rio de Janeiro FF, Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo |
| 2009 | Drive Thru # 2, Galeria Vermelho, São Paulo Project Room, ARCO9, Madrid |
| 2008 | Drive Thru # 1, Sprovieri Progetti, London |
Selected group exhibitions:
| 2016 | Ao Amor do Público: Doações Recentes, Museu de Arte do Rio, Rio de Janeiro |
| 2014 | The Great Acceleration – Taipei Biennale, Taiwan To see what is coming, Largo das Artes, Rio de Janeiro Estado de Suspensão, Coletor, São Paulo |
| 2013 | Collective Fictions, Palais de Tokyo, Paris Avante Brasil, KIT Düsseldorf |
| 2012 | Trienal Poli/Grafica de San Juan, Puerto Rico |
| 2011 | Travessias, Centro de Cultura Bela da Maré, Rio de Janeiro Caos e Efeito, Itaú Cultural, São Paulo Rendez Vous 11, Institut d’Art Contemporain, Lyon |
| 2010 | Convivências, Fundação Iberê Camargo, Porto Alegre 29. Bienal de São Paulo, São Paulo After Utopia, Museo Pecci, Miland |
Exhibition at Künstlerhaus Bethanien:
Matheus Rocha Pitta - "For the winners the potatoes"
3 to 26 March 2017
Opening 2 March 2017, 7pm
The exhibition is accompanied by a catalogue (english):
Nicola Müllerschön and Christoph Tannert (eds.), Matheus Rocha Pitta: For the Winners the Potatoes, including an essay by Tobias Peper, Dortmund: Verlag Kettler, 2017.