One Becomes Many explores the enduring legacies that transcend generations in the works of eleven Black Brazilian artists. Through traditional motifs, geometric abstractions, and a deep reverence for Brazilian culture, these artists offer glimpses into a world where resilience is not merely a trait but a sacred inheritance.
Central to the exhibition is candomblé—the Afro-Brazilian religion that draws on traditions of West African ethnic groups such as the Yoruba, Fon, and Bantu, as well as some aspects Roman Catholicism. Inspired by ritual practices, these artists pay homage to deities and ancestral spirits, exuding divine potency and wisdom in their works. The reimagined symbolic imagery from candomblé serves as a visual testament to the strength of a people who have endured, persisted, and thrived.
Themes of the diaspora also resonate deeply in this collection of works, reflecting the artists’ shared experiences of displacement, survival, and cultural continuity. Through narratives concerning identity and belonging, artists juxtapose complexities of history with contemporary realities of Afro-Brazilian communities. One Becomes Many invites viewers on a journey in which the past intertwines with the present and the echoes of ancestral wisdom guide us toward a future illuminated by what endures.
Presented artists are Emanoel Araújo, Mestre Didi, Sonia Gomes, Gustavo Nazareno, Paulo Nazareth, Antonio Obá, Alberto Pitta, Hariel Revignet, Tadáskía, Nádia Taquary and Rubem Valentim.
