By Chesney Hearst, Senior Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – “Eva – O corpo feminino como tabu e ponte para a transgressão” (Eva – The female body as taboo and bridge for transgression), an exhibition of the works of Rio de Janeiro street artist and women’s rights activist Panmela Castro opened on July 8th in Galeria Scenarium and will continue through August 19th.
The free to the public exhibition features over seventy works by Castro that explore the archetype of Eve, gender, and the female body. Curated by Priscilla Duarte, the displayed works include twenty paintings, twenty-two drawings, fifteen watercolors, three sculptures, fifteen photos and a video installation, created through a collaboration with Krank of the well-known Rio de Janeiro graffiti collective, FleshBeckCrew.
During the opening of the exhibition, Castro presented a performance piece in which she had her head shaved live by an assistant and then, removed her makeup and changed from a pink dress and flats to a black suit and sneakers.
For years, Castro, a graduate in painting from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (UFRJ) and a holder of a Master of Arts degree from the Rio de Janeiro State University (UERJ), has created street art and murals that have appeared throughout the city and beyond, in the streets of São Paulo and internationally in the United States, Germany, and France. Additionally, her works have been featured in exhibitions and events including in Art Rua (Street Art), Rio’s urban art festival.
Castro is also well known for her work to raise awareness of domestic violence and women’s rights in Brazil. She is the founder NAMI Rede Feminista de Arte Urbana, an organization that uses workshops and classes to educate and empower women through art and self-expression.
In 2014, the group and Castro created a giant 336m² mural, Onde há respeito, há paz (Where There is Respect, There is Peace), to bring attention to women’s legal rights in case of domestic violence in Brazil and to celebrate the eighth anniversary of the Maria da Penha Law, a Brazilian law that punishes those who commit violent crimes and domestic abuse against women.
The “Eva – O corpo feminino como tabu e ponte para a transgressão” exhibition will remain on display through August 19th. Galeria Scenarium’s hours of operation are Tuesdays through Saturdays 1PM to 7PM.
What:“Eva – O corpo feminino como tabu e ponte para a transgressão,” Panmeala Castro Exhibition
When: July 8th – August 19th, Tuesdays through Saturdays 1PM to 7PM.
Where: Galeria Scenarium, R. do Lavradio, 16, Centro
Entrance: FREE