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Hélio Oiticica
Turning colour into environments and wearable artworks that invite participation.
Parangolés · Tropicália
- Born
- 26 July 1937
- Birthplace
- Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
- Died
- 22 March 1980
More people
Hélio Oiticica
Hélio Oiticica was a Brazilian artist associated with the Neo-Concrete movement. He moved beyond painting into installations, performance, film and writing.
Early life
Creative family
His father was a photographer and scientist.
Art training
Studied with Ivan Serpa at Rio’s Museum of Modern Art.
Career
- 1955–1959
Art groups
Joined Grupo Frente and then the Neo-Concrete movement.
- 1960s
Participatory work
Developed wearable Parangolés and environments visitors could enter.
- 1970s
New York and return
Lived and worked in New York before returning to Rio in 1978.
Selected work
Parangolés
Created capes and structures activated through movement.
Tropicália
Built an immersive environment at Rio’s Museum of Modern Art.
Cosmococas
Collaborated with Neville D’Almeida on experimental audiovisual environments.
Beyond work
Mangueira
His involvement with the samba community influenced his approach to movement and participation.
Writing
Produced extensive notes and theoretical texts alongside his visual work.
Sources & photo credit
Life, career and references ↗Institutional source ↗Photo: Unknown Unknown. Public domain · Original image. Cropped and displayed in monochrome.