Pedro Motta

Born in 1977 – Belo horizonte, Brazil. Lives and works in Belo Horizonte, Brazil

 

“Untitled” and “Lona” series, B W photo, 2003 / 2004
Venues: National Center of Dance

 

For a series of 7 images (untitled, 2003-2004), Pedro photographed the facades of buildings facades that were drastically altered after construction.  There are doors and windows covered by bricks and concrete, photographed with severity and a certain monotony, hard and symmetrical, recorded in almost-homogenous black-and-white compositions, highlighting textures. 
It could belong to the German school of Bernt and Hilla Becher, and is intriguing for its formal analysis of the constructive typology. However, in Pedro’s image, what is in focus is a decadent city, captured by the realistic record of the photograph.  While they are waiting for a better end, the abandoned buildings have access to their interiors blocked, preventing invasion in a vulnerable city. There is no way to escape from that: those blockages are intended to create a separation between a desirably prosperous and private interior and an outside, as public and as threatening as could be. The realistic character of the images conveys sorrow, impotent in the face of reality.  Never as a denunciation, but more like a contemplation. (Rodrigo Moura)

Recent solo exibhitions
2004     Galeria Maria. Diamantina, MG, Brasil.
         Museu da Pampulha. “Bolsa Pampulha”, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.

Recent group exibhitions
2006    5ª Bienal Internacional de Fotografia e Artes Visuais de Liège. Liège, Bélgica.
         Neue Berliner Kunstverein. Berlim, Alemanha.
2005    Coleção Pirelli/ Masp de Fotografias, Masp, São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
         Alem da Imagem, Instituto Telemar, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
          3º  FotoArte 2005, Brasília, DF, Brasil.
          6º  Prêmio Porto Seguro de Fotografia. São Paulo, SP, Brasil.
          Noorderlicht Noorderlicht Photofestival. Groningen, Holanda.
          Arte Brasileira Hoje. Coleção Gilberto Chateaubriand, MAM, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.
          Paisagem Submersa II. Galeria Pace, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
          2 X 2 . Galeria Gesto Gráfico, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brasil.
          Exposição de Verão. Galeria Silvia Cintra, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brasil.