Rogerio Reis
Rogerio Reis’ (b. 1954, Rio de Janeiro) latest solo show at Marsiaj Tempo comprises two different works that, despite their differences, are intimately and ironically related to Rio de Janeiro: “Microondas” [Microwaves], from 2004, and “Ninguém é de Ninguém” [Nobody belongs to Anybody], from 2011-2014.
”Microondas” results from a series of events that made the artist feel closer to barbarism than to civilization: the murder of journalist Tim Lopes, Marcelo Yuka’s handicapping accident, and the fact that the artist himself, accompanied by his wife, almost died from a violent robbery. Such situations led him to action and reflection groups on social issues, like Coletivo X, composed of activists, artists, some sectors of the police and residents of the favelas. This creative recess pushed him towards some formal ruptures, such as the lost of interest for wall pieces, the discovery of the floor as an exhibition space, round documental photos, etc. “Microondas” comprises backlights with two series of photos. The coloured ones record an action by a friend of the artist, victim of violence during the military dictatorship, who burnt some tires on the top of a hill after the request of Reis. The black and white images, by their turn, were taken during his work as documental reporter.
”Ninguém é de Ninguém” is a humorous work where Reis explores a character of his own creation, the “Anonymous Paparazzi”, who looks for freedom to photograph without previous authorizations or bureaucracy. This experience generated his “Textbook to take spontaneous photos in the beaches of Rio”, which includes the sentence attributed to Banksy: “It’s easier to ask forgiveness than it is to get permission”. The stripes used by the press to protect the identity of underage subjects and suspects allude to the sharp humour of American John Baldessari, and to the first masking experiments with floating circles by Hungarian Lászlo Moholy Nagy (“The Olly and Dolly Sisters”, 1925). During the opening, the book “Ninguém é de Ninguém”, published by Edições de Janeiro and Olhavê, was released.
