Arte e Política: quatorze telas de artistas visuais da coleção Memória da Constituinte

Abstract

This thesis aims to analyze fourteen distinct paintings created during the Brazilian constituent period of 1987-88, part of the subset known as "Visual Artists' Screens from the Constituent Memory Collection," housed at the Museum of the Republic in Rio de Janeiro. The present study argues that these works, likely taking the form of posters, constitute political discourses intertwined with the country's political history, undoubtedly impacting the active social movements of the time. While the research provides general information about the artists responsible for these creations, the primary focus rests on the paintings themselves rather than the biographies of the painters. The employed methodology is grounded in iconography, allowing an in-depth analysis of the iconographic elements present in the works and their interaction with the historical and political context in which they were conceived. The research also examines the relevance of these artworks to Brazil's political and cultural history, emphasizing visual language as a potent medium of communication and mobilization in public space. It explores the complex relationships between art, the national flag, and the constituent process, as well as the multifaceted representation of Brazil's political transition in the selected paintings. Additionally, the study addresses the ambiguity in the use of colors, strategically employed both to legitimize authoritarian regimes and to be reclaimed by popular movements fighting against dictatorship. This analysis leads to fundamental questions such as: What role did these works play in the social movements' fight for democracy in Brazil? How do these fourteen paintings capture and express the political and social tensions of the period under review? In summary, this thesis offers a unique and interdisciplinary perspective on a specific set of artworks, exploring their role as tools for political and social expression during a critical period in Brazilian history. Through this analysis, the research aims to understand how these paintings contributed to the struggle for democracy in Brazil, and how they interpret the complexities and challenges of the constituent period.