“Culture shock” is how they describe it. But here at Choque Cultural Art Gallery it is meant with a wink. The exhibitions of modern and urban art are often world class.
Choque Cultural was founded in 2004. It has become a main global reference in urban art. It presents young artists alongside established international names. The exhibition program focuses on the integral presentation of artists. This includes diverse media. They work through indoor street or virtual exhibitions.
But there is so much more to Choque Cultural. The gallery invests in exchanges residencies urban interventions collaborations immersions and other multidisciplinary experiences. Choque and its artists carry out art projects. They do this in urban space non-conventional art spaces and traditional museum institutions.
Despite a focus on young Brazilian talent Choque Cultural also features artists from all over South America. You will notice the exterior of the building is painted with eye-catching colors. This gives the gallery its “shock effect.” The inside is quieter. It offers carefully curated exhibitions.
Choque Cultural prides itself on exhibiting works of pop art photography and sculpture. These are by Brazil’s top contemporary artists. One exhibit featured works by the artists Zezão Jaca and Presto. It looked like it would be more at home on the walls of a favela. It consisted of large colorfully embellished murals. These murals are known as street art. They have been transferred to canvases. More inspirational than angry they’re a far cry from “tag” graffiti. These are hastily sprayed words on outdoor property that convey social and political messages.
São Paulo isn’t the only place where street art has made the leap from the inner city to the gallery. Exhibition spaces in Los Angeles London and New York City have all commissioned street artists. They apply their talents to murals. They do this rather than on building façades or concrete barriers. The artistic style of the outdoor artwork is preserved. Some argue that moving it indoors compromises its integrity and mission.
During Choque Cultural’s Trimassa street-art exhibit vandals broke in. They spray-painted pichação or tag graffiti all over the works. This was to protest the mainstream marketing of the art form.
One artist presented here is Urso Morto. His paintings seem distinctly un-Brazilian. The usual bright colors are replaced with white black and red. Urso Morto’s bears don’t seem to display any of the classic touches of Brazilian graffiti.