The Embassy of Italy in Brazil opened its doors to the public for an exhibition dedicated to the works of Italian-Brazilian artist Candido Portinari, which took place from 15 to 27 March.
Son of Italian emigrants who moved to Brazil from the Veneto region, Candido Portinari is considered the greatest Brazilian painter of the 20th century.
The exhibition dedicated to Candido Portinari in Brazil
“We are honored to host the works of the great maestro Portinari, whose relations with the Italian Embassy date back to the beginning of his career,” said Ambassador Francesco Azzarello, thanking the artist’s son, Joao Candido, director of the Portinari Project, for his collaboration.
The embassy also hosted the conference “Candido Portinari: from the coffee plantation to the UN“. Italian Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs Manlio Di Stefano also attended the event.
“Portinari figures in the Pantheon of the giants of international contemporary art. He lived through a complex historical period, and inspired an important Brazilian pictorial movement,” said Ambassador Azzarello opening the meeting. “He gave a voice to the people, to inequalities and poverty. His works were inspired by a spirituality and religiosity that critics find moving“.
Portinari’s most important artistic work, entitled ‘War and Peace‘, is the testimony of his great commitment to peace through art and culture. ‘War and Peace’ is a monumental painting made of two 14 meters high panels, which since the mid-fifties has been on show at the entrance of the United Nations Palace in New York. As the ambassador pointed out, Portinari’s message is even more relevant today.
The exhibition dedicated to Candido Portinari is part of a program of cultural activities organized by the Italian diplomatic network to promote Italian culture through events and exhibitions.
