Identification
Title
Oxumaré
Production Date
2021
Object Number
2022.019
Credit Line
Collection Pérez Art Museum Miami, gift of Allison and Larry Berg
Copyright
© The Estate of Emanoel Araújo. Courtesy of Jack Shainman Gallery, New York and Simōes de Assis, São Paulo
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Physical Qualities
Medium
Wood, automotive paint, iron, neon, shells, mirrors, beads, and glass
Dimensions
87 1/2 x 27 1/2 x 7 1/2 inches
Visual Description
The piece is rectangular and appears shrine-like. The sculpture is made of a base rectangle shape of wood that is painted a vibrant yellow. From the bottom it has diagonal slabs of wood that create a zig-zag pattern toward the upper third of the sculpture. In several places, there are gaps between the zig-zagging slabs creating triangular voids that expose the wall. At the top and end of the zig-zagging slabs, there glass chains hanging in the shape of an inverted letter “V”. One cluster on either side of the V shape. In the middle there is an arrangement of yellow seashells. On either extremity of the glass chains there an iron sculpture of a snake within a red frame. The snake on the left has three heads, the snake on the right has four. Above this section, there is an iron ball in the top middle of the piece. On top of it is a small iron lizard. Arching over the ball and lizard are several rows of unpainted shells and then seven rows of arched neon lights in seven different colors, like a rainbow.
Emanoel Araújo
Emanoel Araújo — b. 1940, Santo Amaro, Brazil; d. 2022, São Paulo
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