Samba In The Dark is inspired by a well-known Brazilian protest song, Apesar de Você (In Spite of You), written and recorded in 1970 by Chico Buarque at the height of the military dictatorship in Brazil (1968-1984). The song unapologetically criticizes the Generals’ repressive government with powerful, metaphorical lyrics. Although the song was immediately censored by General Médici’s regime, it became the anthem for millions of Brazilians of all ages. It remains a popular song today for the hope and resilience it inspires:
“In spite of you, tomorrow will be another day. I ask you, where will you hide the huge euphoria? How will you ban when the rooster insists on singing? New water welling up and our people love each other nonstop.”
This exhibition is an invitation to the artists and the audience alike to reflect on the tumultuous times we currently live in. Despite various attempts to deter them, artists in Brazil have long stood up against dictatorship, authoritarianism, and censorship, and have fought for a civil and just society for many generations. In this spirit, the twenty-four contemporary artists in Samba In The Dark channel the energy of widespread activism that continues to thrive in Brazil. The works exhibited span several decades and encompass a wide variety of materials.
The featured artists are Jonathas de Andrade, Assume Vivid Astro Focus, Dora Longo Bahia, Lenora de Barros, Vivian Caccuri, Marcos Chaves, Marcelo Cidade, Rodrigo Franco, Marcius Galan, Cao Guimarães, Lucia Koch, André Komatsu, Laura Lima, Jarbas Lopes, Cinthia Marcelle, Marepe, Arjan Martins, Cildo Meireles, Sérgio Sister, Valeska Soares, Clarissa Tossin, Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca, Yuli Yamagata
Samba In The Dark, curated by Fernanda Arruda, Patricia Pericas, and Nessia Pope opens tomorrow and runs from January 14 – February 15, 2020. For further information please visit the Anton Kern Gallery website
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