The fantasy that Brazil's territories and women are prime for exploitation has been promoted from the moment of colonization, through 20th century tourism, even to political speeches of today. The result has cemented a stereotype that incites violence against and sexualization of Brazilian women--both at home, and around the world; today, Brazil has one of the highest rates of murder and rape of women and trans people, and in places like London, 80% of Brazilian women fall victim to domestic violence. The exhibition presents works by twelve artists who critique this image of eroticized beauty and its dangerous outcomes. Examining the colonial and biological origins of harmful stereotypes that disproportionately affect Black and Indigenous women, and how such tropes are reinforced through Brazil's national narrative of "racial democratization," the works on view illustrate the psychological and physical toll of incessant objectification and dehumanization.
New York City, NY; NYC