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João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva

According to an introductory text to their work, the work of João Maria Gusmão (1979) and Pedro Paiva (1977) has the “intellectual reference point of Alfred Jarry’s pataphysics, the intuitive method of Henri Bergson, the reversal of Nietzschean nihilism and the ontological and political adventure of Alain Badiou.” Their work poses various aesthetic and philosophical questions through short 16 mm films from which the artists also extract stills. Their works ironically examine paranormal natural or human phenomena and satirically show a whole series of “moments of truth”, which was the expression used by the philosopher Alain Badiou for historically important moments for certain empirical research projects. The joint work of Gusmão and Paiva is thus a surprisingly humorous and intuitive approach to the wonders and absurdities of this world.

Artworks

  1. João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva Filme sobre Esquleto (o Porco) - About Skeleton (The Pig), 2004–2006

    Film 16 mm, couleur, muet
    30 s
    Produit par ZDB
    Collection Mudam Luxembourg
    © Photogramme : Mudam Luxembourg

  1. João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva As Pedras Rolantes - The Rolling Stones, 2007

    Film 16 mm, couleur, muet
    2 min 3 s
    Produit par ZDB lors d’une résidence au Chili
    Collection Mudam Luxembourg
    © Photogramme : Mudam Luxembourg

  1. João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva A Tocha Humana – A human Torch, 2007

    Film 16 mm, couleur, muet
    2 min 23 s
    Produit par ZDB avec le soutien de Inhotim Cultural Centre, Minas Gerais, Brésil, et Galeria Fortes Vilaça, São Paulo
    Collection Mudam Luxembourg
    © Photogramme : Mudam Luxembourg

  1. João Maria Gusmão & Pedro Paiva O Mito do Espírito da Gravidade (ou O Ferreiro e O Corte da Serpente) – About the Myth of the Spirit of Gravity (or the Blacksmith and the Cutting of the Serpent), 2007

    Film 16 mm, couleur, muet
    9 min 50 s
    Produit par ZDB lors d'une résidence au Maroc
    Collection Mudam Luxembourg
    Acquisition 2008
    © Photogramme : Galeria Graça Brandão

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