I received this distrubing email from a brazilian artist friend
let the blog world know about this
Dear Friends,
I am supposed to be showing a video installation at Açucar Invertido II exhibition in New York this week, but the tapes I have sent are being mysteriously lost and delayed. I am seriously thinking it is a form of censorship on pornographic work by DHL, the courier company.
I encourage you to go to the exhibition or send a friend from New York. Even if my work might not be shown there (if no tape, the piece will be exhibited with a protest note), it is worth seeing what artist-curator Edson Barrus is proposing with the exhibition.
I am attaching a note written to a NY press agent that explains the DHL case, a press release of the show and a file with information on the piece.
Finally, you will see that I am signing the piece with No Me Compliques La Vida collective, that's because I don't want to give a heart attack to my grandmother in case she sees my name in a paper...
Thanks and best regards,
Eduardo Bonito
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We think it is outrageous that an freight company can decide on a content of an artistic exhibition by foreign artist. The documentation and invoices attached to the video tape clearly stated that it was artistic work.
The package left Rio on the 30th of December and arrived at its destination Williamsburg in Brooklyn apparently intact on the 6th of January. The envelope was neat, the instruction on how to install the piece and notes for press release were there, the video box was there, but the actual VHS tape which was inside it was not there.
DHL has not confirmed yet why the tape is missing. It said it started an investigation. We are almost certain of the censorship, because of previous cases with DHL that we got to know yesterday at the internet, such as the case of work by Japanese Artist Nabuyoshi Araki, censured by DHL in a delivery for a gallery in Budapest.
see website http://www.noticiaslocas.com/EpZEEuZAVy.shtml
Until DHL does not confirm that the reason for our tape to be retained is that they consider it to be pornographic, we cannot publish the story, but we imagine that they will answer very shortly.
Currently the piece is on exhibition with the sign on the top of its screen:
THE TAPE HAS BEEN MISTERIOUSLY LOST BY DHL. REPLACEMENT ON ITS WAY.
I am attaching information on the work which is the same that was together with the information, as well as the press release from the exhibition.
I hope you can forward this to the other editors you mentioned yesterday.
best regards,
The Secretary
no me compliques la vida
nomecompliqueslavida@terra.com.br
Av Atlantica 1866 ap 101
Copacabana
Rio de Janeiro RJ
22021-001
Brazil
T: +55 21 2549 3655
F: +55 21 8159 0974
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AÇUCAR INVERTIDO II
IN A BRAZILIAN-BASED ALTERNATIVE SPACE,
RÉS DE CHÃO, IN WILLIAMSBURG, BROOKLYN
December 2, 2003--January 10, 2004
New York, NY (Friday, November 21, 2003) - The Americas Society today announced that it would host Açucar Invertido II (Inverted Sugar II) organized by the Brazilian-based alternative space Rés de Chão, as part of its AS A SATELLITE visual arts initiative. Açucar Invertido II will take place for 40-days from December 2, 2003 through January 10, 2004, operating temporarily from a 2000 sq. ft. live/work loft space in Williamsburg, Brooklyn located at 71 North 7th Street.
At times, Rés de Chão's loft in Williamsburg will function as the home of Edson Barrus, founder of Rés de Chão, and as the guest quarters for participating artists of Açucar Invertido II. But more often, the loft will function as an artists' studio, office space, performance venue, exhibition gallery, and overall creative laboratory open to the general public.
As part of Açucar Invertido II, Rés de Chão is organizing real-time video streamings and screenings, performances, interventions in the public space, exhibitions, and a number of public programs (including dance classes and Portuguese language courses taught by artists). A number of these programs will be planned and scheduled in advance, however, some events of Açucar Invertido II will take place spontaneously; certain programs will be organized without prior announcement; and several other projects might just happen, by chance, or by accident.
The programs of Açucar Invertido II involve dozens of artists and cultural producers from Brazil and abroad, including Ricardo Basbaum, Yann Beauvais, Carine Cadilho, Ana Paula Cardoso, Marcelo Cucco, Thomas Köner, Arthur Leandro, Daniela Mattos, Carmem Riquelme, Rick Santos, Tato Teixeira, and groups such as Los Vaderramas, Grupo Urucum, and Dig Improvizzo, among others.
Many of these artists and groups will visit New York City and stay at Rés de Chão's loft in Williamsburg at various times throughout the 40-day program schedule of Açucar Invertido II. Other artists have (and will continue) to send their projects or instructions from abroad: Bruno Vieira, based in Belo Horizonte, has invited a number of artists to send their "packaged" art via postal mail; Camila Rocha will be connected via e-mail from Finland; and Rachel Rosalén will transmit/stream her project in from Japan.
>>Rés de Chão reflects the relationship and cross-cultural influences of artistic practices and disciplines, and will generate a diverse network of people and ideas.
>>Rés de Chão, will be accompanied by a four-page, black-and-white brochure and will include an introductory text on Rés de Chão's history and vision, a schedule of planned events, and contact information for Rés de Chão's loft in Williamsburg.
Contact:
Edson Barrus, curator
edson_barrus@ig.com.br
tel: 718 599 0099
The Americas Society's AS A SATELLITE initiative is generously supported by The Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts. Additional support has been provided by the Elliot Family Foundation. AS A SATELLITE media sponsors include: Art Nexus, Parachute, Latin Arte, Arte al Dia, and Latinarte.com.