Di Cavalcanti
(Rio de Janeiro, September 6, 1897 - Rio de Janeiro, October 26, 1976)
The Museum of Contemporary Art of University of São Paulo once again revisits more the work of Emiliano Augusto Cavalcanti de Paula Albuquerque e Melo, better known as Di Cavalcanti, having already organized exhibitions in 1954 (as the former Museum of Modern Art), 1964-1969 (itinerant exhibition, already as MAC USP), 1976 and 1978 (Porto Alegre), 1983, 1985, 1997 and 2013. It is almost an obligation for us to show our Di Cavalcanti collection, since the museum has received 564 of his drawings as donation, of which only three (donated by Pola Rezende) were not offered and selected by the artist himself. MAC USP collection also has emblematic canvases by Di Cavalcanti such as [O Beijo] (c.1923), but this time we aim to highlight the set of artworks on paper, not only because of the amount of drawings in the collection but also because they represent all aspects of Di Cavalcanti's artistic work.
Di Cavalcanti used many techniques on paper, such as gouache, crayon, pastel, watercolor, graphite, ink, fountain pen, ballpoint pen and scrap board, always with mastery. Employing these materials he produced portraits, decoration projects, scenarios and murals, illustrations, posters and caricatures.
We celebrate the 120th anniversary of Di Cavalcanti's birth by presenting 41 drawings from MAC USP collection. The themes pointed out by the curator are presented in the panels, while commissioned projects, which demand closer and more detailed observation, are displayed in the showcases.
We invite the public of the University of São Paulo and the visitors of the new gallery inside of Rectory building to enjoy the variety that characterizes the works selected for this exhibition, which represent and document all periods of one of the most recognized Brazilian artists, both national and internationally.
Carlos Roberto F. Brandão Director MAC USP
© 2017 Museu de Arte Contemporânea da Universidade de São Paulo