Reordering Images and Re-constructing Memories: three artists-archivists in Brazil

Examining concepts of the archival in the work of three Brazilian artists of different generations, Anna Bella Geiger (born 1933), Rosângela Rennó (born 1962) and Jonathas de Andrade (born 1982), this thesis proposes a genealogy of archival art practices in Brazil. This thesis argues that the art practices of these three artists re-order and re-contextualise images in relation to issues on identity, memories and historical constructions in Brazil. In the 1970s Geiger critically incorporated and mixed appropriated images, creating artworks that form an 'incidental archive' which challenges Brazil's official narratives on national identity and history. Since the 1990s Rennó has also been examining official historical and memorial narratives. Her art practice re-signifies abandoned photographs and archives, reflecting the country's social and institutional amnesia. Working since the 2000s, de Andrade mixes images from varied archival sources. His archival artworks point to both local and global references present in the construction of the society he inhabits. Considering that the art practices are connected to Brazil's specific historical and social context, as well as informed by a wider process of re-signification of the archival, this thesis examines points of intersection and distance between the three specific art practices and an 'international' turn to archives and memory in contemporary art.

Access to this thesis is restricted because it contains copyrighted material. Please contact UAL Research Online to request a copy for personal research.