"Boca do Inferno" and Brazil's Political Landscape

Speaker(s): Carmela Gross
Duration: 2 min
© Victor & Simon

Though it’s dark, still I sing, Works from the 34th Bienal de São Paulo marked the Bienal’s first presentation in both Europe and France. On view at LUMA Arles from 2022 to 2023 in Les Forges, the exhibition brought together a selection of works exploring perception and transformation while examining the ways multiple realities can coexist. Installations, sound pieces, paintings, videos, photographs, and letters unfolded into a journey shaped by a wide range of forms and narratives.

Why does Carmela Gross draw a connection between volcanic activity and Brazil's political landscape? Why did she choose the monotype as the medium for this work?

In this conversation, Carmela Gross reflects on Boca do Inferno and the ideas behind its creation. Conceived as an opera, the work brings together natural catastrophe, political history, and visual language to offer a critical perspective on contemporary Brazil.