In the solo show FF (Portuguese abbreviation for “fundo falso” [false bottom] among other things), Matheus Rocha Pitta presents a series of new works result of his research on the relation among art, value and crime.
Since 2007, Rocha Pitta has been collecting images of objects and substances confiscated by the police in different crime scenes. By different procedures, the images of illegal goods are introduced into a new circulation dynamic. Therefore, the photographic document acts as a element of conversion among substance, image and the meanings they generate inside consumption society in our days.
On his first solo exhibition at Vermelho, the artist took money bills, main symbols of commodity, as object of seizure. The sculpture Oratório (Oratory) installed in the lobby of Vermelho suggests a prologue of the show. A TV set cabinet is turned into a sort of mini cave. Its cement walls depict images collect-ed in newspapers of seized illegal money, reais and US dollars seizure in the scandal of Mensalão, in 2008.
The photograph series Canais (Channels) depict the same TV set. The photo enters here as a descriptive tool revealing each one of the six false bottoms carved on the monitor. Each single image of the series presents the relation between the circulation of images in the media and a sub circulation of prohibited goods.
The video installation Fundos Reais (Real Funds), 2008-2009 takes the design of the seven different bills of Real (Brazilian currency) as object of analysis. Seven monitors show 100 different images of details of the notes. Almost abstract, this collection of images evokes senses beyond the regular significance money bills in our society.
Fake Bottom # 1 (fountain) is a false bottom created for the main hall of Vermelho. Behind the fake wall, a stair case which steps are filled with Real money bills leads to a fountain. On the top of the staircase the observer is invited to throw coins in exchange for a wish.
In the solo show FF (Portuguese abbreviation for “fundo falso” [false bottom] among other things), Matheus Rocha Pitta presents a series of new works result of his research on the relation among art, value and crime.
Since 2007, Rocha Pitta has been collecting images of objects and substances confiscated by the police in different crime scenes. By different procedures, the images of illegal goods are introduced into a new circulation dynamic. Therefore, the photographic document acts as a element of conversion among substance, image and the meanings they generate inside consumption society in our days.
On his first solo exhibition at Vermelho, the artist took money bills, main symbols of commodity, as object of seizure. The sculpture Oratório (Oratory) installed in the lobby of Vermelho suggests a prologue of the show. A TV set cabinet is turned into a sort of mini cave. Its cement walls depict images collect-ed in newspapers of seized illegal money, reais and US dollars seizure in the scandal of Mensalão, in 2008.
The photograph series Canais (Channels) depict the same TV set. The photo enters here as a descriptive tool revealing each one of the six false bottoms carved on the monitor. Each single image of the series presents the relation between the circulation of images in the media and a sub circulation of prohibited goods.
The video installation Fundos Reais (Real Funds), 2008-2009 takes the design of the seven different bills of Real (Brazilian currency) as object of analysis. Seven monitors show 100 different images of details of the notes. Almost abstract, this collection of images evokes senses beyond the regular significance money bills in our society.
Fake Bottom # 1 (fountain) is a false bottom created for the main hall of Vermelho. Behind the fake wall, a stair case which steps are filled with Real money bills leads to a fountain. On the top of the staircase the observer is invited to throw coins in exchange for a wish.
