São Paulo from an Artist’s Perspective: an Interview with Marcelo Moscheta

In occasion of our special issue dedicated to the São Paulo Art Week we asked artist Marcelo Moscheta to share with our readers his artist’s perspective on the city of São Paulo.
During the art fair, Moscheta is having his first solo show at Galeria Vermelho: “Sete Quedas” (Seven Falls) in which he problematizes questions linked to man’s passage through different landscapes of the globe and the interferences he has made, such as constructions, alterations in the topography, and the systematization of the terrestrial globe.

Claudia Malfitano: Could you tell us about your process of creation and where you get your inspiration from?

Marcelo Moscheta: My main subject comes from the relation between natural environments and human interventions. The landscape becomes the focus, the scenario where man can have his measure in comparison to the world. The common thread running through my work is a great fascination for nature, together with my willingness to travel and experience the landscape and developing a classification procedure like that of an archaeologist questioning the boundaries of territory, geography and physics through art.
Since the beginning of my artistic career in 2000 I have created works and exhibitions arising out of journeys to remote places, where collected objects from nature are translated in drawings and photography, creating installations and objects. Recently, my interest aims at researching borders and imposed limits to territories and also the relation between rivers and the landscape that follows their course. Last year, I’ve been working on the Project Arrasto (Dragging) in which I’ve driven through all the extension of the Tietê River and collected minerals at the river banks. Other researches were about ancestral memories at the River Trebbia, in Italy and at the Canadian/U.S. border.

CM: You live and work in Campinas, close to Sao Paulo; what is your relationship with the city? Does the city itself inspire your work?

MM: I came to Campinas to study Fine Arts in the 90’s and settled here since them. I’ve also tried to move to São Paulo, but the rush of the metropolis and the velocity of daily life couldn’t grab me there. Although Campinas is not a small city – 3 millions inhabitants at the metropolitan area – I can find here a close relation to the countryside and access natural resources within minutes from my studio. All this facilities contribute to my research as an artist at the same time I have a more extended time to think, create and rest.. I live very close to some small hills, rivers, the Tropic of Capricorn line passes beside my place together with some astronomic observatory… all of this inspires me.

CM: What about the art scene in Sao Paulo? Do you think the city is a stimulating place for an artist?

MM: Absolutely! At least once a week I go to São Paulo. The city offers a huge opportunity of cultural programmes, international museum exhibitions, cutting edge galleries shows, artist running independent spaces open to the public and the encounter with fellow artists. All this exchange turns São Paulo into a vibrant place to visit (and live.. for those who need adrenaline!). The city itself is an amalgama of many cultures and different visions and positions and one can have a bit of everything, since historical places to research to public libraries, from reference art faculties to any kind of service you need.

CM: Could you tell us five places in Sao Paulo? you would suggest to someone who loves art?

MM:
1. MASP (Museum of Art of São Paulo) have recently brought back its original way of exhibiting paintings and sculptures at the second floor, with Lina Bo’s glass easels… it’s a pleasure for the eyes and an inspiring way of seeing iconic masterpieces in a fluid exchange room.

2. Parque do Ibirapuera offers a lot to do, and one can spend the whole day there.. within Niemeyer’s architecture path it’s possible to visit the Bienal de São Paulo, the Museu de Arte Moderna, the Auditorio do Ibirapuera and the Museu Afro Brasil. All of them connected by a huge concrete path… you can go by skate, bike or rollers to all of them and have some exercise too!

3. Pivô is an independent artist run space who has gained a lot of attention for its innovative proposals and interventions. Based on a mezzanine of Copan Building, it became a reference for the non institucional spots. If you go there, you can stop by some “gourmet” traditional Brazilian cuisine at Bar da Dona Onça, at the street level.

4. Mosteiro de São Bento is a benedictine chapel, at the city center, in the middle of the rush and noisy streets, if you go in the very morning on weekends, there may be a chance to relax listening to some gregorian choir.. something surreal in São Paulo’s crowded life.

5. Mercado Muncipal is a delight for the senses with its traditional mortadella sandwiches and “pasteis de feira”… good to spend a whole morning between fruits, nuts, Japanese food and Brazilian Northeastern cuisine.. delicious!