Even the industrial products
displayed in the pavilion were plastically integrated. Two exhibits are shown in Comas’ Arqtexto. One of sisal for rope making and one of cotton fibre for textile manufacturing. Instead of an exhibit composed of infographics about the various industrial processes required to turn raw material into finished product, the pavilion takes a more sculptural approach. A container of raw sisal is positioned at the base of the sculpture and slowly transitioned into more refined spools that are stacked vertically on the right hand side of the composition. The spools are arranged in a visually pleasing manor with the largest spools on the bottom. A tilted armature on the left pulls stands from the various spools to a central point, where the individual threads transition into a refined piece of rope. The finished product spirals down in a gestural fashion into perfect loops. The sculpture is combining an old fashioned material (the sisal) an abstracting the production process into a quasi-technological art form. This juxtaposition was not meant to teach viewers about rope manufacturing, but rather to evoke feelings of industry, production and the cutting edge. The reality of how technologically advanced the process is becomes unimportant, rather the emotions evoked by the raw material in a new form. The sculptures also seem to refer back to some ideas conveyed in the Brazilian Modern Art Movement
as they created a new understanding
and fusion of “the primitive” (sisal), “the modern” (the high tech feeling of the modern sculpture).40 This is also reinforced by the textile exhibit that was present in the pavilion’s main hall. This sculpture represents the textile manufacturing process in an equally compelling way. The piece is composed of a series of seven tall, rectilinear frames with spools of cotton sticking off and pointing at the viewer; an abstraction of a loom. Sheets of processed textiles are hung diagonally from the top of the frames an converge at the bottom right of the composition. This sculpture similarly juxtaposes the feeling of a high tech, industrial machine with a low tech material. Again, the most important aspect are the emotions communicated instead of a scientific explanation or demonstration. Art is a unique medium that has the possibility to communicate information that other mediums cannot. Both sculptures serve as examples of portraying Brazil as an advanced manufacturing country in a global setting. With the help of plastic exhibition, viewers would leave the exhibit and hopefully think of Brazil as a futuristic country of tomorrow. Perhaps the most intriguing exhibit in the pavilion was the display of Brazilian minerals and ores. This exhibit was located in an alcove of the main exhibit hall, and features a copy of a De Chirico painting on the back wall, with large rocks (the raw minerals) positioned in front of the painting.41
and fusion of “the primitive” (sisal), “the modern” (the high tech feeling of the modern sculpture).40 This is also reinforced by the textile exhibit that was present in the pavilion’s main hall. This sculpture represents the textile manufacturing process in an equally compelling way. The piece is composed of a series of seven tall, rectilinear frames with spools of cotton sticking off and pointing at the viewer; an abstraction of a loom. Sheets of processed textiles are hung diagonally from the top of the frames an converge at the bottom right of the composition. This sculpture similarly juxtaposes the feeling of a high tech, industrial machine with a low tech material. Again, the most important aspect are the emotions communicated instead of a scientific explanation or demonstration. Art is a unique medium that has the possibility to communicate information that other mediums cannot. Both sculptures serve as examples of portraying Brazil as an advanced manufacturing country in a global setting. With the help of plastic exhibition, viewers would leave the exhibit and hopefully think of Brazil as a futuristic country of tomorrow. Perhaps the most intriguing exhibit in the pavilion was the display of Brazilian minerals and ores. This exhibit was located in an alcove of the main exhibit hall, and features a copy of a De Chirico painting on the back wall, with large rocks (the raw minerals) positioned in front of the painting.41
Portinari, Cândido. Cena Gaucha. 1939.