Sergio de Camargo
Encyclopedia
Sérgio de Camargo was born in Rio de Janeiro
, Brazil
. De Camargo studied at the Academia Altamira in Buenos Aires
under Emilio Pettoruti
and Lucio Fontana
. Camargo also studied philosophy at the Sorbonne in Paris
. On a protracted trip through Europe
in 1948, Camargo met Brancusi, Arp
, Henri Laurens
and Georges Vantangerloo.
Sérgio de Camargo began to work in sculpture and his early pieces are reminiscent of Picasso and H. Laurens. Returning to Brazil
in 1950, Camargo came into contact with Brazilian Constructivists
. In 1952-53 he again returned to Europe and went to China
in 1954. Between 1961 and 1974 Sérgio de Camargo remained in Paris
, where he became a member of the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel. During that period he concentrated on structuring monochrome white surfaces with cylindrical wooden reliefs in which the play of light and shadow alternates between order and chaos, fullness and emptiness. After this period of work, de Camargo returned to Brazil. There he contributed (1965-67) a monumental element to Oskar Niemeyer's Foreign Ministry in Brasilia - a rhythmically structured 25-m wall. During the late 1960s Sérgio de Camargo showed work at numerous international exhibitions, marking the high point of the recognition accorded de Camargo's work outside Brazil (including a gold medal at the 1965 São Paolo Biennale; the 1966 Venice Biennale
1966; the 1968 documenta
in Kassel). Sérgio de Camargo died in Rio de Janeiro in 1990. The Tate Gallery
in London
has one of de Camargo's work in their permanent collection.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
, Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
. De Camargo studied at the Academia Altamira in Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires
Buenos Aires is the capital and largest city of Argentina, and the second-largest metropolitan area in South America, after São Paulo. It is located on the western shore of the estuary of the Río de la Plata, on the southeastern coast of the South American continent...
under Emilio Pettoruti
Emilio Pettoruti
Emilio Pettoruti was an Argentine painter, who caused a scandal with his avant-garde cubist exhibition in 1924 in Buenos Aires. At the beginning of the twentieth century, Buenos Aires was a city full of artistic development...
and Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana
Lucio Fontana was an Italian painter, sculptor and theorist of Argentine birth. He was mostly known as the founder of Spatialism and his ties to Arte Povera.-Early life:...
. Camargo also studied philosophy at the Sorbonne in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
. On a protracted trip through Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
in 1948, Camargo met Brancusi, Arp
Jean Arp
Jean Arp / Hans Arp was a German-French, or Alsatian, sculptor, painter, poet and abstract artist in other media such as torn and pasted paper....
, Henri Laurens
Henri Laurens
Henri Laurens was a French sculptor and illustrator.-Early life and education:Born in Paris, Henri Laurens worked as a stonemason before he became a sculptor...
and Georges Vantangerloo.
Sérgio de Camargo began to work in sculpture and his early pieces are reminiscent of Picasso and H. Laurens. Returning to Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
in 1950, Camargo came into contact with Brazilian Constructivists
Constructivism (art)
Constructivism was an artistic and architectural philosophy that originated in Russia beginning in 1919, which was a rejection of the idea of autonomous art. The movement was in favour of art as a practice for social purposes. Constructivism had a great effect on modern art movements of the 20th...
. In 1952-53 he again returned to Europe and went to China
China
Chinese civilization may refer to:* China for more general discussion of the country.* Chinese culture* Greater China, the transnational community of ethnic Chinese.* History of China* Sinosphere, the area historically affected by Chinese culture...
in 1954. Between 1961 and 1974 Sérgio de Camargo remained in Paris
Paris
Paris is the capital and largest city in France, situated on the river Seine, in northern France, at the heart of the Île-de-France region...
, where he became a member of the Groupe de Recherche d'Art Visuel. During that period he concentrated on structuring monochrome white surfaces with cylindrical wooden reliefs in which the play of light and shadow alternates between order and chaos, fullness and emptiness. After this period of work, de Camargo returned to Brazil. There he contributed (1965-67) a monumental element to Oskar Niemeyer's Foreign Ministry in Brasilia - a rhythmically structured 25-m wall. During the late 1960s Sérgio de Camargo showed work at numerous international exhibitions, marking the high point of the recognition accorded de Camargo's work outside Brazil (including a gold medal at the 1965 São Paolo Biennale; the 1966 Venice Biennale
Venice Biennale
The Venice Biennale is a major contemporary art exhibition that takes place once every two years in Venice, Italy. The Venice Film Festival is part of it. So too is the Venice Biennale of Architecture, which is held in even years...
1966; the 1968 documenta
Documenta
documenta is an exhibition of modern and contemporary art which takes place every five years in Kassel, Germany. It was founded by artist, teacher and curator Arnold Bode in 1955 as part of the Bundesgartenschau which took place in Kassel at that time...
in Kassel). Sérgio de Camargo died in Rio de Janeiro in 1990. The Tate Gallery
Tate Gallery
The Tate is an institution that houses the United Kingdom's national collection of British Art, and International Modern and Contemporary Art...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
has one of de Camargo's work in their permanent collection.
Further reading
- Brecheret, Vítor. Brazilian sculpture from 1920 to 1990. Washington, DC: Cultural Center, Inter-American Development Bank, 1997.
- Brito, Ronaldo. Sergio Camargo: Espacos da arte brasileira. São Paulo: Cosac & Naify Edições, 2000.