Rafael Carneiro | Homem-Natal e outras histórias...

Luciana Brito Galeria is presenting Homem-Natal e outras histórias… [Christmas Man and Other Stories…], a solo exhibition by Brazilian artist Rafael Carneiro. The show, held in the gallery’s annex pavilion, features a selection of ten paintings exhibited here for the first time, developed as an extension of the artist’s material-focused research. The title Homem-Natal e outras histórias… refers to one of the few figurative works in the exhibition and also alludes to literature, since each painting tells its own story – much like a literary short story. The critical text is by researcher and curator José Augusto Ribeiro.

Positioned on the threshold between figuration and abstraction, the paintings in this exhibition reflect the artist’s freedom and maturity. Having gradually moved away from the technical virtuosity of figurative painting, Carneiro is now working with a material-based approach, guided by a sensitive process that intersects with the research and production of materials developed by Joules & Joules – the factory he co-founded with Bruno Dunley in 2020. This focused and painstaking research into refining materials has guided the evolution of Carneiro’s artistic practice. This marks a shift from his earlier investigations, which sought to suppress material presence in favor of exploring the ambiguity of images across various visual languages – ranging from paintings based on footage from NASA’s CCTV cameras early in his career to later works drawing on imagery from books and magazines.

While traces of figurative construction remain in this new body of work, what stands out is a careful focus on the properties and variations of the materials used – such as the interplay of color, density, and texture – achieved through oil sticks, acrylic paint, pigments, and oils, all made with specific natural elements like Brazilian earth and minerals.

It is worth noting that Joules & Joules has not only informed Rafael Carneiro’s artistic research, but has also had a significant impact on the wider visual arts scene in Brazil. As the only domestic brand producing high-quality materials at accessible prices, it has democratized access, stimulated artistic production, and contributed to the strengthening of the national art market. Until its emergence – with a direct-to-artist model that avoids intermediaries – many Brazilian artists had depended on increasingly expensive imported supplies. Joules & Joules has since become popular not only among established painters but also among young, emerging artists striving to gain visibility in Brazil’s competitive visual arts circuit.