Currier hosts first U.S. exhibit for Brazilian artist
The Currier Museum is hosting the first United States exhibit for internationally renowned artist Uýra. The exhibit, “The Living Forest: UÝRA (A Floresta Viva: UÝRA),” is a celebration of the artist’s indigenous identity, the nature of Brazil, and the complexities of gender in society.
Uýra is a nonbinary indigenous Brazilian artist. The work is primarily performance art, developing costumes and personas that reflect the struggles of indigenous people, the environment and transphobia in Brazil. Their work was the subject of the 2022 documentary Uýra: The Rising Forest.
“All these elements are played out in the physical transform by wearing natural elements, like natural dyes, tree bark and leaves, all from the mountains where they are from and live,” said the Currier’s chief curator, Lorenzo Fusi. “By creating this drag persona that is interspecies, inter-gender, it embodies everything from plants to animals and humans to nature as well, everything forming our universe.”
Uýra has never had a solo exhibit in the United States, Fusi said. He said the Currier was honored to be giving Uýra their first American showcase. This is also one of the largest solo exhibitions Uýra has done.
Because of the performative nature of Uýra’s artwork, Fusi said there was a distinct challenge in how to set up the shows. Fusi said that one of the ways they plan to capture Uýra’s performances is through a book the museum is publishing.
“The way they perform, sometimes [the performances] aren’t meant to have a live audience, those are more like rituals and more personal actions,” Fusi said. Because of the sometimes solitary nature of Uýra’s art, there are videos and photographs documenting those performances. “Everything is installed in a way so that the audience enters into the environment. The whole show is very immersive.”
On the opening day, Uýra will give a live performance. Fusi said it won’t be the last time they perform, and the Currier plans to have them back at least for the museum’s summer block party on July 15.
“It’s such an interesting practice … because of the element of magic that comes from Uýra performing, it’s a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.”
When it comes to the opening of the exhibit, whether visitors are able to see Uýra’s performances or not, Fusi hopes the artwork will spark important conversations. He wants people to not just see the artwork as beautiful, but see the ideologies of the artist and discuss the messages Uýra is trying to convey.
“There are different levels to [the art]; the beauty and seduction of the images, but they speak across barriers of race and cultural backgrounds, which is so immediate and strong and powerful,” Fusi said. “If you want to scratch the surface of visual engagement, pick and choose one of the many themes. Protection of environment, gender and indigenous rights are the three key points I’d like people to take away.”
The Living Forest: UÝRA (A Floresta Viva: UÝRA)
Where: Currier Museum of Art (150 Ash St. in Manchester; currier.org, 669-6144)
When: Opens Thursday, May 11, with a performance at 7 p.m. The exhibition will be on display through Sept. 24.
Hours: The museum is open Wednesdays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Thursdays from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.; Fridays through Sundays from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Admission: $15 for adults, $13 for 65+, $10 for students, $5 for 13 through 17 and free for children under 13. Admission is also free for all from 5 to 8 p.m. on Thursdays and free for New Hampshire residents on the second Saturdays of the month (including this Saturday, May 13).
Featured photo: A Mata Te Se Come, 2018. Photo by Lisa Hermes.
