Arriving at the exhibit by Hélio Oiticica, I was immediately taken aback by how immersive the entire exhibit was. The 2D geometric pieces hanging on the wall, and the 3D pieces hanging from the ceiling, were beautiful. The hanging pieces truly emphasized the importance of viewing the artwork from all perspectives. As you walked around the sculptures, you found very different pieces of work. One piece specifically had a mirror hanging below it, which allowed you to have a unique viewpoint that many artistic pieces aren’t able to permit. The most eye catching piece was towards the center of the exhibit, and I couldn’t help but admire the size and vibrant color of it. Shown here: 
The most interesting painting I saw from Oiticica was political (of course). Reading the background behind it, Oiticica was inspired by the political turmoil Brazil had been experiencing, and expressed these feelings in this painting, which translates to English as “Be an Outlaw, Be a Hero“. In the wake of a dictatorship, I feel the intensity of this piece, and identify with the idea that sometimes radical change can only occur through adamant displays of disapproval. The painting is a true work of art in my eyes, due to the aesthetic rawness of it in color scheme as well as the overall message behind it. 
The most intriguing artwork however, was Tropicalia. I have never before experienced a museum exhibit so fully and with truly all of my senses. The concept of removing our shoes and walking along the sand or waterways, and feeling the things that Oiticica felt in his homeland was inspiring. The sounds of the parrots and the sight of vibrant color and beige beaches, all tied together to create an intense experience that was truly unforgettable. Reading the description, I realized the true meaning behind the piece was to highlight the stereotypes of these tropical places. I feel like as Americans we view places like Brazil as vacation spots, and a paradise. Meanwhile walking through the piece and seeing the torn and tattered books, wood chips littering the floor, and dirty and dingy small places to sleep and live, you begin to realize what life in these places actually is like. I loved this exhibit and I enjoyed having a lot of our classmates there with me! (See group selfie below!)
After reading reviews of the exhibit, I have a newfound appreciation for Oiticica’s life and the struggles he went through. Reading the review from the New Yorker, the author described the process in which Oiticica went through for many of his groundbreaking pieces. Not only that, but I wish I had read the reviews for the simple fact that they provide a phonetic pronunciation of Oiticica’s name – which until that I was just randomly guessing on. I appreciated the family history that the NYT provided in it’s article on the exhibit. I love how both reviews tie in the major historical events and culture behind Oiticica’s pieces. Oiticica’s life was abundant and full of struggle but also abstract beauty.
I completely agree with everything you mentioned in the “Be an Outlaw Be a Hero” painting since that painting stood out to me as well. You phrased beautifully how the color scheme refers to the “aesthetic rawness” of the political views at the time period during Brazil’s oppression. I also really enjoyed the way you connected Brazil’s tourist spots to the real views from the eyes of a civilian there not just a tourist. Great Blog!