Sesc Santo André opens "Sacilotto BioGráfico"

The exhibition "Sacilotto BioGráfico" at Sesc Santo André continues the celebrations for the centenary of the birth of the artist pioneer of concrete art in Brazil. Held in Luiz Sacilotto's hometown and divided into four thematic sections, the exhibition is curated by Reinaldo Botelho and highlights the life and work of the artist, inviting the public to immerse themselves in his creative processes.

Born on April 22, 1924, Sacilotto was a central figure in divisive movements such as Concrete art, Geometric Abstractionism and Op Art. Bringing together 17 works and 22 items from his personal collection, as well as a series of original documents, facsimiles, tools and working materials, "Sacilotto BioGráfico is divided into four sections: City and Public Space; Life and Work; Colors-Tones and Atelier.

In the first two sections, aspects of Sacilotto's life and the inseparable relationship between his work and the urban development of Santo André show that his legacy is intrinsic to the city's cultural heritage. In 2000, as a tribute from Santo André City Hall, the city's main shopping street, Rua Coronel Oliveira Lima, was paved with tiles reproducing his work. The sculpture Concreção 0005 was also installed there, as was the Concreção 0011 in the square IV Centenário, both works has made by the artist that same year.

Works by the artist have also been part of the identity of the Sesc unit in the city since it was founded in 2002. On that occasion, Sacilotto painted two panels measuring around 275 in x 365 in - the largest works in terms of size in his curriculum - specially designed for Sesc Santo André and made from colorful geometric weaves that cause optical illusions and give the sensation of movement or volume, even though they are made on flat surfaces.

Providing an immersion in the artist's creative environment, the Atelier section presents artistic materials and working tools and documentation of his creative processes, such as studies, projects, notes, notebooks, sketches, models, objects and photographs which, arranged side by side, show the very personal methodology developed by Sacilotto.

“The atelier is the main beam that structures the exhibition. The importance of this space for the artist's work and research is evident, as it is the place where creativity is stimulated and artistic production comes to life. It functions as a atelier of practices, as a universe of experimentation, innovation, training, collaboration and cultural exchange. Here the artist explores technique as a research tool and a learning process, a discourse and a way of thinking” explains Botelho.

In the Colors-Tones nucleus, one of the engaging characteristics of Sacilotto's production is detailed to the public: the way in which, in his compositions, colors are manipulated to highlight or soften the geometry of his creations. Over more than six decades of work, he has created and collected pigments, classified and numbered gradations that reach more than 300 tones and include everything from earths from Siena, Italy, and Kassel, Germany, to blues and greens from deposits in Minas Gerais.

Of the 17 works included in the show, 6 came from the collection of the Casa do Olhar Luiz Sacilotto, a museum founded in 1992 by the Santo André City Hall and renamed in 2003 in honor of the artist, who died on February 9 of that year at the age of 78. Another 8 works and 22 items from his personal collection came from the Sacilotto family estate, held under responsibility of Almeida & Dale, who collaborated frequently with Botelho during the research for the show. Another three works complement the curator's collection and were temporarily donated by Hospital Brasil, in Santo André, Pinacoteca de Mauá and Pinacoteca de São Bernardo do Campo.

Inclusive for PwD, the four sections that make up the exhibition space of "Sacilotto BioGráfico" also have accessibility features such as QR codes that direct visitors to audios related to the self-mediation content, as well as videos in LIBRAS (Brazilian Sign Language) and audio description of the works.

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Sacilotto BioGráfico
Opening: January 15, 2025, at 7 p.m.
Visits: From January 16 to July 27, 2025
Tue to Fri | 10am - 9:30pm
Sat & Sun | 10am - 6:30pm
Free admission
Sesc Santo André
Rua Tamarutaca, 302 - Vila Guiomar, Santo André/SP