Ernesto Neto: Boa

Brazilian artist Ernesto Neto (b. 1964) is one of the brightest names in the international contemporary art scene. In his installations, Ernesto Neto continues the tradition of Brazilian modernism, an approach strongly characterised by the viewers’ presence and participation. Through his art, Neto offers a moment of respite from the bustle of everyday life, calming the mind and tuning the senses.

Organised by Kiasma, the exhibition comprises works from 2009 to 2016 and is Neto’s first solo exhibition in Finland. Individual works by Neto have been shown in Kiasma previously in group exhibitions in 2001 and 2003. In recent years, Neto has had extensive one-man shows in Europe: in 2014 at the Guggenheim in Bilbao and at the Arp Museum in Remagen, Germany, and in 2015 at the Thyssen-Bornemisza Art Contemporary in Vienna and in Kunsthalle Krems, Austria.

In recent years, Ernesto Neto has found strong resonance for his art from his collaboration with the Huni Kuin, an indigenous people in the Amazon. He is intrigued by their traditions and rituals, particularly by their desire to achieve happiness and harmony in life and to abide by the timeless wisdom of nature.

Installed on the fifth floor in Kiasma, Neto’s new piece contains strong references to the culture of the Huni Kuin, both symbolically and tangibly. Inspired originally by the shape of the head of a boa constrictor, the installation contains elements that Neto has been using in his work for more than 20 years: the unity of humanity and nature, sensuousness, experientiality and the production of positive energy.

The exhibition also reflects Neto’s views on respecting the rights and traditions of indigenous peoples and the appreciation of cultural difference.