Ernesto Neto
(Brazil 1964– )
- Title
- Sonambulinos
- Other titles:
- Brother and sister
- Year
- 1999
- Media category
- Sculpture
- Materials used
- Lycra tulle, polystyrene
- Dimensions
-
110.0 x 130.0 x 70.0cm overall (approx.)
- Signature & date
- Not signed. Not dated.
- Credit
- Gift of Geoff and Vicki Ainsworth 2001
- Accession number
- 333.2001
- Copyright
- © Ernesto Neto
- Location
- Not on display
- Further information
Neto is amongst a group of artists who emerged in the 1990s in Brazil. Influenced by Brazilian Neo-concretism his work is strongly attached to the body and the senses and although mainly abstract in form, the sculptures have organic qualities.
These two large, voluptuous 'Sonambulinos', which is Portuguese for ‘little sleepwalkers’ are part of the artist’s series of ‘ovaloids’ which are a group of soft sculptures that invite the viewer to hug and interact with them. This is a pair of sacks tied at the top by what could only be an umbilical cord except for the belly-button holes in their anatomy. The cord ties them together as mother and child or as brothers. Although abstract in their essence, their almost bodily shapes and the lycra they are made from are very appealing to the senses and make them seem like they would move when no body’s watching. (EF)
- Bibliography (2)
-
Lucina Ward (Australia) (Author), Soft sculpture, Canberra, 2009, 22, 23 (colour illus.).
Anthony Bond (England; Australia) (Commissioning Editor), Wayne Tunnicliffe (New Zealand; Australia) (Commissioning Editor), Contemporary: Art Gallery of New South Wales Contemporary Collection, 2006, back cover (colour illus.), 358 (colour illus.). reproduction on back cover is a detail
- Exhibition history (2)
-
Orifice, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, 08 Oct 2003–30 Nov 2003.
Soft Sculpture, National Gallery of Australia, 24 Apr 2009–19 Jul 2009.
