Hélio Oiticica. When I first saw that name on our class syllabus, I had no idea who he was. I had never heard about him, never seen any of his work.
When I arrived at the Whitney Museum last Thursday, I instantly regretted that I hadn’t been exposed to him sooner.
Hélio’s work is unlike that of any other artist. It’s bold. It’s bright. It’s downright honest.
I for one, love it. There is not a piece that I saw that I didn’t connect with.
My favorite though, if I really had to choose, would be a piece entitled “Seja Marginal Seja Herói.” In English it translates to “Be an outlaw, be a hero.”
I really identify with that expression.
Growing up, I was always different from the kids around me. When I was younger, it was just that I preferred to keep to myself. Instead of going to high school parties, I would rather stay at home, sip a cup of tea, and listen to The Beatles. Now, it’s that I’m not on Instagram and that I don’t understand memes.
For a while it bothered me. It made me feel like a weirdo, like an outsider. Now, I’m actually okay with it.
Hélio’s words embody the idea that we don’t need to be like everyone else. We don’t need to have the same interests as our peers. We don’t need to agree with the popular opinion. And we most certainly don’t have to succumb to societal standards.
Being our own person is okay.
My second favorite piece would have to be Tropicália. According to the description posted nearby, Hélio meant for the massive display to allow viewers to experience his homeland of Brazil.
That it most definitely did.
Walking barefoot through the sand, climbing in to pits of tattered books, and listening to the whistles of parrots, I felt like I was being transported to another realm. I was no longer in congested little New York City but walking on a tropical beach.
The best word to describe it, would be magical.
The interactive display both helped me understand Hélio’s background and identify the influences Brazilian culture has had on his style. It also made me understand the title of the exhibition, “To Organize Delirium.”
The artwork showcased is a reflection of Hélio’s thoughts. As we are walking through the exhibit, we are quite literally exploring Hélio’s mind.
We are seeing his evolution as an artist. We are seeing his geometric designs, his architectural installations, his writing, and his films. We are seeing his thoughts. His raw, unfiltered thoughts in no particular order – making it all the more real.
At any given time and place each and every one of us has more than one thought in our heads. We’re not sitting in math class, solely thinking about the derivatives of a function. We’re thinking about what we did before class, when this class will end, and a plethora of other things.
“To Organize Delirium” showcases Hélio’s art as his thought process – a beautiful and innovative concept.
-Alyssa Motilal
I really enjoyed the formatting of your blog. It was very easy to read and allowed me to understand exactly how you felt throughout the exhibit. I would really love to experience his work again or even explore other artists with a similar artistic style.
On a personal note, it was really fun exploring the museum with you!
I think the idea that Oiticica’s work embodies individuality is absolutely true and a hugely important part of the exhibit. His work is so unique and contrary to previously existing standards for art that it inevitably forces us to think in ways we never would have otherwise before.
After reading two reviews on “Hélio Oiticica: To Organize Delirium,” I have come to the conclusion that my opinion of the exhibit wouldn’t have changed if I had read these beforehand. Both articles, one from The New York Times and the other from The New Yorker, mentioned things that I also pointed out in my blog. They talked about the complete absurdity and abstract nature of Hélio’s work and how that makes him relatable.
One line in particular that really stood out to me comes from “Cool Heat: An Art Outlaw Who Still Simmers” and reads “But it’s alive in a way almost no art feels now.”
I think that’s the perfect way to describe Hélio’s work. Even though he, the artist, is no longer living, his art still is. His work conveys a sense of emotion that a lot of other art doesn’t.