Mano Penalva documents the material culture, behavior changes and globalization. His artwork are deliberately nonrepresentational, allowing materials to dictate form and come together on their own. He holds a degree in Social Communication (PUC-RJ), where he also studied Social Sciences with an emphasis on Anthropology. He attended 6 years of free art courses at (EAV) Escola de Artes Visuais - Parque Lage. 

The Mano Penalva process involves his interest in anthropology and cultural education, which materializes in this urgency to appropriate common articles found and purchased on the street, popular markets and travel to compose his own works. Thus, one can recognize a breakdown of frontiers into a globalized language proposed by the meeting of the materials used in the works, either in the appropriation of a national family iconography, or in the juxtaposition of it to other iconographies in different parts of the world, often subvert the values nd meanings and stitching social and philosophical discourses that are evidenced by the forms of created objects.

The artist explores the poetry obtained by the displacement of materials and objects from his everyday context, working with different media such as painting, photography, sculpture and installation. Its production includes appropriations, in which it develops a study of the common object inserted in the culture, realizing a long collection of articles found in the street and in popular markets. In creating the works, it subverts the value of everyday objects, proposing new aesthetic groupings based on the relationship of the retail sale strategies and their collection experiences.

His work brings reflections on the character of objects, how they transit the world, exchange relationships and trade agreements between countries. They acquire different layers of meanings when used by different cultures, impacting on the formation of the customs of a society. Mano emphasizes with his works the idea that the exponential proliferation of objects and images are not intended to train perception or consciousness, but insist on merging with them.

His solo exhibitions include: Acordo, Central Galeria, text Juliana Monachesi, (São Paulo, Brasil, 2019); Hasta Tepito, B[X] Gallery, curatorship Julie Dumont, (Brooklyn, NY, 2018); Requebra, Frederic de Goldschmidt Collection, curatorship Julie Dumont (Bruxelas, Bélgica, 2018); TRUK(ə), Soma Galeria, curatorship Josué Mattos (Curitiba, PR,  2018); Proyecto para Monumento, Passaporte Cultural, curatorship Yunuen Sariego (Cidade do México, MX, 2017); Andejos, Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto, text Olivia Ardui ( Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2017); Estado Sul, Camelódromo, curatorship Franck Marlot (Porto Alegre, RS, 2017); Balneário, Central Galeria, text Bernardo Mosqueira (São Paulo, SP, 2016); Deslocamento, Qual Casa, text Tarciso Almeida (São Paulo, SP, 2015), project Mesmo Lugar do Jardim do Hermes. 

His group exhibitions include:  What I really want to tell you..., Atchugarry Art Center, curatorship Jeniffer Inacio ( Miami, 2019); 24º Salão Anapolino de Arte, (Anápolis, GO, 2019); RECIPES FOR A B_R_Z_L_ ?, Spring Break/UN Plaza, curatorship Tatiane Santa Rosa/AnnexB (New York, 2019); DEVANIR, HELENIRA, ZULEIKA, VLADIMIR, Duas Galerias, curatorship Wagner Nardy, (Belo Horizonte, MG, 2019); Bienal das Artes, SESC Distrito Federal, curatorship Enock Sacramento (Brasília, DF, 2018); Ser, Habitar e Imaginar, Concrete Space, curatorship Adriana Herrera (Miami, EUA, 2018); Blockchain/Alternative barter: a new method of exchange?, B[x] Gallery, curadoria Pia Coronel (Brooklyn, Ny, 2018); O Maravilhamento das Coisas, Galeria Sancovisky, curatorship Julie Dumont (São Paulo, SP, 2018); A Bela e a Fera, Central Galeria, curatorship Leda Catunda (São Paulo, SP, 2017);  Hecha la ley, hecha la trampa, Hangar, curatorship Maykson Cardoso (Barcelona, BCN, 2017); As coisas se escoram tortas, Divisão de Artes Plásticas da Uel, curatorship Danilo Villa e Ricardo Basbaum (Londrina, PR, 2017);  Área,  Espaço Saracura, curadoria Omar Porto (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 2017); Comensais, Projeto A MESA, curatorship Maykson Cardoso (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 2016); Secretaria Insegurança Pública, SAO Espaço de Arte, curatorship Caroline Carrion (São Paulo, SP, 2016); 41º SARP - Salão de Arte de Ribeirão Preto, Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto (Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2015); Arranjos, SAO Espaço de Arte, text Mariana G. Leme (São Paulo, SP, 2016); Simphony of Hunger: Digesting FLUXUS in five moviments,  A PLUS A Gallery, curatorship September Collective (Veneza, IT, 2015); CONTRAPROVA, Paço das Artes, curatorship Hermes Artes Visuais (São Paulo, SP, 2015); 22º Salão de Praia Grande (São Paulo, 2015), 40º SARP - Salão de Arte de Ribeirão Preto, Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto (Ribeirão Preto, SP, 2015);  L’imaginaire de l’enfance, Cité Internationale des Arts, curadoria Carlotta Montaldo (Paris, FR, 2015); VIDI ARTE, Mirante do Avrão, curatorship Roberta Fernandes (Rio de Janeiro, RJ, 2014); If you see something, say something, Lot 45, curadoria Group BR (Brooklyn, NY, 2014). 

The awards, scholarships, and residencies in which he participated include: 26BY art residence - bruxelas, bélgica (2019), annexb - residência artística - nova york, eua (2018), penthouse art residence - residência artística - bruxelas, bélgica (2018), r.a.t - residência artística por intercâmbio cidade do méxico (2017), pop center - porto alegre, rs (2017), 41º sarp, salão de arte de ribeirão preto nacional-contemporâneo - museu de arte de ribeirão preto - ribeirão preto, sp (2016), conartist  - residência artística - nova york, eua (2014)

Public collections he is part of: Frédéric de Goldschmidt Collection - Bruxelas - Bélgica, PAT Art Lab - Augsburg - Alemanha, Acervo - MARP, Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil, Acervo da Laje - Bahia - Brasil

______________________________________________________________________________

 

CV

Mano Penalva (Salvador / BA, 1987), lives and works in São Paulo. He holds a degree in Social Communication (PUC-RJ), where he also studied Social Sciences with an emphasis on Anthropology. He attended 6 years of free art courses at Parque Lage.

INDIVIDUAL EXHIBITIONS

2019

  • Acordo (Central Galeria - São Paulo) - Text Juliana Monachesi

2018

  • Hasta Tepito (BX Gallery - New York) - Curatorship Julie Dumont

  • REQUEBRA (Frédéric de Goldschmidt Collection - Belgium) - Curatorship Julie Dumont

  • Truk (ə) ((Soma Galeria - Curitiba) - Curatorship Josué Mattos

2017

  • Proyecto para Monumento (Cultural Passport - Mexico City) - Curatorship Yunuen Sariego

  • Southern State (Camelódromo POP Center - Porto Alegre) - Curatorship: Franck Marlot

  • Andejos (Art Museum of Ribeirão Preto - São Paulo) - Text: Olivia Ardui

2016

  • Balneário (Central Gallery - São Paulo) - Text: Bernardo Mosqueira

2015

  • Displacement (Qual Casa - São Paulo) as part of the Projeto Mesmo Lugar Hermes Artes Visuais

 

COLLECTIVE EXHIBITIONS

2019

  • What I really want to tell you..., Atchugarry Art Center, Miami (EUA), curatorship Jeniffer Inacio (the55project)

  • 24th Salão Anapolino de Arte, Anápolis (GO), Curatorship Vânia Leal, Ralph Gehre, Josué Mattos e
    Paulo Henrique Silva

  • RECIPES FOR A B_R_Z_L_ ?, Spring Break/UN Plaza, New York (EUA), curatorship Tatiane Santa Rosa (AnnexB)

  • DEVANIR, HELENIRA, ZULEIKA, VLADIMIR, Duas Galerias, Belo Horizonte (MG), Curatorship Wagner Nardy

2018

  • Bienal das Artes, Sesc Distrito Federal, Curators: Jacob Klintowitz, Enock Sacramento, César Romero, Rinaldo Morelli and Maurício da Silva Matta

  • Blockchain / Alternative barter: A new method of exchange ?, B [x] Gallery, Brooklyn, Ny, Curator: Pia Coronel

  • The wonder of things, Sancovisky Gallery, São Paulo, Curatorship: Julie Dumont

 

2017

  • The Beauty and the Beast, Central Gallery, São Paulo, Curated: Leda Catunda

  • Library of Love, Contemporary Arts Center of Cincinnati, Ohio (USA), Organization: Sandra Cinto

  • Area, Saracura, Rio de Janeiro, Curatorship: Omar Porto

  • Things are a bit crooked, Federal University of Londrina, Paraná, Curated: Danillo Villa and Ricardo Basbaum

  • Made the law, made the trap, Calçada da Gloria, Rio de Janeiro, Curated: Maykson Cardoso

  • Made the law, made the trap, Hangar - Barcelona, Curated: Maykson Cardoso

  • 45th Luiz Sacilotto Salon, Santo André - São Paulo

  • 49th Saloon of Piracicaba - São Paulo

  • UNS, Space BREU - São Paulo

  • Arrangements, SAO Art Space, São Paulo, Text: Mariana Leme

 

2016

  • Commensals, Project A MESA, Rio de Janeiro, Curatorship: Maykson Cardoso

  • Secretariat of Public Insecurity, SAO Espaço de Arte - SP, Curator: Caroline Carrion

  • 41th SARP, Art Hall of Ribeirão Preto, MARP - São Paulo

  • Arrangement, SAO Art Space - São Paulo, Text: Mariana Leme

 

2015

  • Simphony of Hunger: Digesting FLUXUS in five movements, A PLUS The Gallery - Venice, Italy, - - Curatorship: September Collective

  • CLEANING & CLEANING - Chennai

  • 22th Salão de Praia Grande - São Paulo

  • 40th SARP, Art Hall of Ribeirão Preto, MARP - São Paulo

  • L’imaginaire de l'enfance, Cité Internationale des Arts - Paris, France, Curatorship: Carlotta Montaldo

Education:

  • Megamorfosis with Eduardo Abaros in Soma México - 2017

  • Extension Course in Art History Museum of Image and Sound - São Paulo (2012)

  • Extension Course in Art History São Paulo Art Museum (2011)

  • Graduation in Social Communication - Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (2008)

  • Free Art Courses at EAV - Escola de Arte do Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro (2005 - 2010)

The awards, scholarships, and residencies in which he participated include:

  • 26BY art residence - bruxelas, bélgica (2019)

  • annexb - residência artística - nova york, eua (2018)

  • penthouse art residence - residência artística - bruxelas, bélgica (2018)

  • r.a.t - residência artística por intercâmbio cidade do méxico (2017)

  • pop center - porto alegre, rs (2017)

  • 41º sarp, salão de arte de ribeirão preto nacional-contemporâneo - museu de arte de ribeirão preto - ribeirão preto, sp (2016)

  • conartist  - residência artística - nova york, eua (2014)

Collections:

  • Frédéric de Goldschmidt Collection - Bruxelas - Bélgica

  • PAT Art Lab - Augsburg - Alemanha

  • Acervo - MARP, Museu de Arte de Ribeirão Preto - Brasil

  • Acervo da Laje - Bahia - Brasil

  • Collection - MARP, Museum of Art of Ribeirão Preto

"A few years ago, Mano has been dedicated to researching the formation of Brazilian culture and the ways in which it manifests itself in different contexts. The popular commerce, the street and the house have been their great interests of study. The main procedure in his work is the gambiarresca union, precise and unusual of fragments and objects often reused. The results, usually of great visual impact, make us feel as if we were dealing with something that was domestic and that, in some mysterious way, came to life. And now, when we look at them flaunting their own mutations, we are graced with symptoms of the plasticity of culture. "Bernardo Mosqueira

"I think that in the work of Mano Penalva this quality of skin and movement are attenuated, and the body of the artist seems to negotiate with the stilt bodies everywhere he goes, and there is a constant exercise in exposing himself to these forces from the outside In this case, it seems opportune to problematize a type of exercise conquered by the arduous work in dribbling the dictates of a quotidian. centered from the self to catapult itself to new dimensions of the body itself, a body shaped by the landscape, which is seen as an integral part of the medium and allows the admirable crossing that only the improbability of events is capable of offering. There is in this mode of walking only a duty: that of understanding life, or art, as the very sculptural gesture of doing. "Tarcisio Almeida