From June 26, the CCBB is hosting the exhibition ‘A. R. L. Vida e Obra’, dedicated to the legacy of Antônio Roseno de Lima (1926-1998). Semi-literate, this artist was a 20th century outsider whose theme was the harsh reality of the underprivileged areas of Campinas, using materials he found in the trash: cardboard, pieces of tin and leftover nail polish.
The exhibition brings together prints, paintings and photographs by the artist, also telling his life story through his works. It will be on show until August 19 and is free to enter, just pick up tickets free of charge at the box office or via the CCBB website.
‘A. R. L. Vida e Obra’: learn about the artist’s career
Antônio Roseno was a native of Rio Grande do Norte and, at the age of 30, moved to São Paulo in search of a better life. He ended up settling in the Três Marias slum in Campinas, where he lived until his death.
Initially, A. R. L. (as he signed his works) sold sweets to make ends meet, until he came across a photography course that changed the course of his life. There, he discovered a new passion and vocation for art, starting to photograph and paint with discarded materials. In his works, he depicted animals such as cows and chickens, as well as women, drunks, presidents and even Santos Dumont, his great idol.
For a long time, the artist remained anonymous. In the 1980s, however, his work was noticed by Geraldo Porto, a professor at UNICAMP’s Institute of Arts, who saw potential in his work and arranged his first group exhibitions. That’s when he earned the nickname ‘pop painter of the favela’ from the press, because his works mixed images, colors and advertisements.
Soon after, his work was recognized worldwide, even being exhibited in European countries. However, A. R. L. died in poverty, due to illness, when most of his works were in art collections in Brazil and abroad.
‘A. R. L. Vida e Obra’ is curated by Geraldo Porto, and brings the artist’s legacy to one of the most visited cultural centers in São Paulo. It will be available to the public from Wednesday to Monday, from 9am to 8pm.