One of the most influential artists of his generation, Tunga (b. Palmares, Brazil 1952) lives and works in Rio de Janeiro. Tunga’s extraordinary practice encompasses sculpture, performance, poetry and video. For over thirty years he has created an integrated body of work characterized by an associative interplay of mirroring and self-reference between individual pieces. Derived from his own constructed mythology Tunga creates installations and sculptures that seem to recall the ancient ritualistic practices of some lost civilization.
Tunga has exhibited internationally since the 1970s. In 2006 a monumental installation entitled A la Lumiere des Deux Mondes occupied the area beneath the glass pyramid at Musée du Louvre, Paris. In 2007 Tunga’s solo exhibition entitled Laminated Souls occupied two floors at MoMA PS1, New York. Further significant solo exhibitions include: Tunga: From La Voie Humide, Pilar Corrias, London (2014); Magma, Pilar Corrias, London (2011); The Garage Center for Contemporary Art (2009); MARCO, Museum of Contemporary Art, Monterrey, Mexico (2001); Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, São Paulo (2001); Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami (1997); The Contemporary Art Institute of New York (1995); The Power Plant, Toronto (1990); Whitechapel Gallery, London (1989); Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam (1989); Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago (1989). Tunga has participated in two Venice Biennales (1995, 2001), in Documenta X (1997), and four São Paulo Biennials (1998, 1994, 1987, 1981).
Tunga’s work is represented in public collections worldwide including the Museum of Modern Art, New York, the Museum of Contemporary Art Los Angeles, Museo Nacional Centro de Arte Reina Sofia, Madrid and Moderna Museet, Stockholm.
Born 1952 in Palmares, Brazil
Lives and works between Rio de Janeiro and Paris
SOLO EXHIBITIONS
2014
Tunga: From La Voie Humide, Pilar Corrias, London – UK
Tunga: From La Voie Humide, Galleria Franco Noero, Turin – IT
“From La Voie Humide”, Mendes Wood, São Paulo – BR
“From La Voie Humide”, Luhring Augustine, New York – US
2013
Ão, Luhring Augustine, New York – US
2012
Matéria Novo Pavilhão Tunga, Inhotim, Minas Gerais – BR
2011
Magma, Pilar Corrias, London – UK
Tunga: Presolar, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris – FR
2010
Tunga: a Luz, de Dois Mundos, Museu Rodin, Salvador de Bahia – BR
Vers la Voie Humide (Towards the wet way), Galerie Piece Unique, Paris – FR
Cooking Crystals Expanded, Galeria Millan, Sao Paulo – BR
2009
Lezart, Museum of Fine Arts Houston, TX – US
2007
Dessins érotiques, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris – FR
Tunga, Luhring Augustine, New York, NY – US
Tunga: Laminated Souls and At the Light of Both Worlds, P.S.1 Contemporary Art Center, New York – US
2006
Tunga: Laminadas Almas, Jardim Botánico do Rio de Janeiro with Galeria Millan Antonio – BR
2005
Les Affinites Electives, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris – FR
Tunga: The film, the videos, Instituto Cervantes, Paris – FR
A la Lumiere des deux mondes, Pyramide du Louvre, Louvre, Paris – FR
2004
The Elective Affinities and Laminosa Animae, Galeria Millan Antonio, Sao Paulo – BR
Tunga: Elective Affinities, Christopher Grimes Gallery, Santa Monica, CA – US
Quimera, Cannes Film Festival, short film competition, Cannes – FR
2003
La Belle et la Bete, Galerie Daniel Templon, Paris – FR
2002
Tunga: Nociferatu, Chapelle du Centre de la Vieille Charite, Les Musees de Marseille – FR
Tunga, Luhring Augustine, New York – US
2001
Tunga, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris – FR
Wideranging Survey, MARCO, Museum of Contemporary Art, Monterrey, Mexico – MX
Resgate, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Sao Paulo – BR
Assalto, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil, Brasilia – BR
CAPC, Musee d’Art Contemporain de Bordeaux – FR
Christopher Grimes, Los Angeles – US
1999
Christopher Grimes, Los Angeles – US
Galeria Luisa Strina, Sao Paulo – BR
Galeria Millan, Sao Paulo – BR
Centro Recoleta, Buenos Aires – BR
Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes and MAM, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1998
Phoenix Art Museum, Phoenix, Arizona – US
True Rouge, Luhring Augustine, New York – US
Tunga 1977-1997, Museo Alejandro Otero, Caracas – VE
1997
Tunga: 1977-1997, Bard Center for Curatorial Studies, Annandale on Hudson – US
Tunga: 1977-1997, Museum of Contemporary Art, Miami – US
1996
Galeria Luisa Strina, Sao Paulo – BR
1995
The Contemporary Art Institute of New York, New York – US
1994
Galeria de Arte Luisa Strina, Sao Paulo – BR
Galeria Andre Millan, Sao Paulo – BR
Galeria Paulo Fernandes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1992
Sero te Amavi, Galeria Saramenha, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Antigas Minúcias, Galeria Lê & Marilia Razuk, Sao Paulo – BR
1991
Preliminares do Palindromo Incesto, Galerie Andre Millan, Sao Paulo – BR
Sero te Amavi, Galeria Andre Millan, Sao Paulo – BR
1990
The Third Eye Centre, Glasgow, Scotland – UK
Pulitzer Art Gallery, Amsterdam – NL
Interceptions, The Power Plant, Toronto – CA
1989
Whitechapel Gallery, London – UK
Galeria Paulo Klabin, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Option 37: TUNGA, Museum of Contemporary Art, Chicago – US
1986
Museu de Arte UFMT, Cuiabá – BR
1985
Gabinete de Arte Raquel Arnaud, Sao Paulo – BR
Galeria Saramenha, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1984
Arte Brasileira Atual: 1984, Galeria de Arte UFF, Niteróis – BR
1982
Centro Cultural Candido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1981
Gabinete de Arte Raquel Arnaud, Sao Paulo – BR
1980
Camera Incantate, Palazzo Reale, Milan – IT
Espaço ABC (Arte Brasileira Contemporânea), Rio de Janeiro – BR
1979
Centro Cultural Candido Mendes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Nucleo de Arte Contemporânea, Joao Pessoa – BR
1976
Galeria de Arte Luisa Strina, Sao Paulo – BR
1975
Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1974
Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro – BR
SELECTED GROUP EXHIBITIONS
2015
Contingent Beauty: Contemporary Art from Latin America, Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, Texas – US
Imagine Brazil, Instituto Tomie Ohtake, São Paulo – BR
2014
Made By…Feito por Brasileiros, Cidade Matarazzo, São Paulo – BR
Imagine Brazil, Musée d’art contemporain de Lyon, Lyon – FR
La línea continua, Blanton Museum of Art, Austin, Texas – US
Bloodflames Revisited, Paul Kasmin Gallery, New York, NY – US
Made by Brazilians…Creative Invasions, Cidade Matarazzo, São Paulo – BR
2013
Brasliana: Installations from 1960 to the Present, Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt – DE
Imagine Brazil, Astrup Fearnley Museet, Oslo – NO
Order, Chaos, and the Space Between: Contemporary Latin American Art from Diane and Bruce Halle Collection, Phoenix Art Museum, Arizona – US
2010
Transformation, Museum of Contemporary Art Tokyo, Tokyo – JP
Twenty Five, Luhring Augustine, New York, NY – US
2009
3rd Moscow Biennale of Contemporary Art, The Garage Center for Contemporary Art, Moscow – RU
32 Pieces: The Art of Chess, Reykjavik Art Museum, Reykjavik – IS *
Objects of Value, The Miami Art Museum, Miami, FL – US *
2008
Arte no es Vida: Actions by Artists of the Americas, 1960-2000, El Museo del Barrio, New York, NY – US*
Arte no es Vida: Actions by Artists of the Americas, 1960-2000, Museo Carillo Gil, Mexico City – MX
Arte no es Vida: Actions by Artists of the Americas, 1960-2000, Museo Amparo, Puebla – MX
Arte no es Vida: Actions by Artists of the Americas, 1960-2000, Museo de Arte del Banco de la Republica Biblioteca Luis Angel Arango, Bogota – CO
Pivot Points Part 2: New Mythologies, Museum of Contemporary Art Miami, FL – US
2007
The 80s: A Topology, Museu Serralves: Museu de arte Contemporãnea, Porto – PT
The harder you look. Works on paper, 25 April – 31 May, Eleni Koroneou Gallery, Athens – GR
2006
The Art of Chess, Gary Tatintsian Gallery, Inc., Moscow – RU
2005
Itau Cultural, Rio de Janeiro – BR
2004
Fotografia e Esulture do Acervo do MAM: 1995-2004, MAM, Sao Paulo – BR
2002
Lucio Fontana – a otica do invisivel, CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, Brasilia and Sao Paulo – BR
Violenca e Paixao, MAM Rio de Janeiro and Porto Alegre – BR
2001
Blind Mirror. Selections from a Contemporary Collection, Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Paulo – BR
Brazil Body & Soul, Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, New York, NY – US
The Passions, Valencia Biennale – ES
Miguel Rio Branco – Tunga – Brasil in Venezia / Brazil in Venice, Palazzo Fortunaty, Peggy Guggenheim Collection, 49th Venice Biennale, Venice – IT
2000
Untitled (Sculpture), Luhring Augustine, New York, NY – US
Biennale of Kwangju, Kwangju – KR
Brazil 500 Anos, Parque Ibirapuera, Sao Paolo – BR
500 years of Brazil, Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon – PT
Christopher Grimes Gallery, Los Angeles, CA – US
The Quiet in the Land, MAM, Museu de Arte Moderna, Salvador de Bahia – BR
Biennale de Lyon, Halle Tony Garnier, Lyon – FR
Spanning an Entire Ocean, Culturgest, Lisbon – PT
Bernard Jacobson Gallery, London – UK
1999
Bienal de Mercosul, Porto Alegre – BR
Amnesia, Bronx Museum of the Arts, NY – US
Brazilian Art From the 20th Century: Collection Gilberto Chateaubriand, Museo Nacional de Bellas Artes, Buenos Aires – AR
Brazilian Art From the 20th Century: Collection Gilberto Chateaubriand, MAM, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1998
Etre Nature, Fondation Cartier pour l’Art Contemporain, Paris – FR
Luhring Augustine, New York, NY – US
Amnesia, Track 16 and Christopher Grimes Gallery, Santa Monica, CA – US
Biennale Internacional de Sao Paulo – Special Room, Sao Paulo – BR
Johnny Walker Price, Museu de Bellas Artes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1997
Luhring Augustine, New York, NY – US
Documenta X, Kassel – DE
Centro Cultural Itau and the Brasilian Cultural Ministry, Sao Paulo – BR
Panorama de Arte Brasileiria, Museu de Arte Moderna, Sao Paulo – BR
Video from Brazil, Art in General, New York, NY – US
Generique 1: Désordres, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris – FR
Klima Global, Staatliche Kunstalle, Berlin – DE
Six Brazilian Sculptors, Galeria RBI, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Museu Nacional de Belas Artes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Ha Sopas, with Arthur Barrio, MAM Bahia – BR
30 years of Tropicalia, MAM Bahia – BR
1996
Sin Fronteras : Arte Latinoamericano Actual, Museo Alejandro Otero, Caracas – VE
An Avant-Garde Walk in Soho, NY – US
1995
An Avant-Garde Walk in Venice 1995, Venice Biennale, Venice – IT
Call It Sleep, Witte de With, Rotterdam – NL
Bienal del Barro, Museu de Arte de Caracas – VE
Espaço OX, Sao Paulo – BR
1994
X Bienal de la Habana, La Habana – CU
22nd Biennial International of Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo – BR
As Potências do orgânico, Museu do Açude, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Call It Sleep, Witte de With Centre for Contemporary Art, Rotterdam – NL
1993
Body to Earth, Fisher Gallery, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA – US
Latin American Artists of the Twentieth Century, The Museum of Modern Art, New York, NY – US
Lateinamerikanische Kunst in 20. Jahrhundert, Ludwig Museum, Cologne – DE
Second Tyne International Exhibition of Contemporary Art, Newcastle – UK
Emblemas do Corpo; O Nu Na Arte Moderna Brasileira, Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil,
Rio de Janeiro – BR
Um olhar sobre Joseph Beuys, Museu de Arte de Brasília – BR
1992
Arte Amazonia, Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Artistas Latinoamericanos del Siglo XX, Estación Plaza de Armas, Sevilla – ES
Ha Sopas, with Arthur Barrio, Fundacao Finep, Paco Imperial, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Museu de Arte Moderna, Salvador de Bahia – BR
True rouge is the colour that my baby wore, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Klima Global, Staatliche Kunsthalle, Berlin – DE
1991
Viva Brazil Viva, Kulturhuset, Stockholm – SE
Desordres, Galerie Nationale du Jeu de Paume, Paris – FR
1990
U ABC, Fundacao Calouste Gulbenkian, Lisbon – PT
Transcontinental, Cornerhouse, Manchester – UK
Prêmio Brasilia de Artes Plásticas, Museu de Arte de Brasilia – BR
1989
Lezarts and Through (with Cildo Meireles), Kanaal Art Foundation Kortrijk – BE
Stedelijk Museum, Amsterdam – NL
Gabinete de Raquel Arnaud, Sao Paulo – BR
Nossos anos oitenta, Casa de Cultura Laura Alvim, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Galeria ARCO, Sao Paulo – BR
Galeria Saramenha, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1988
Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Campinas, Sao Paulo – BR
Do Objecto ao Desenho, Galeria Gilberto Chateaubriand, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Ponto para 21, Rio Design Center, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Painting Degree Zero, Terne Gallery, New York, NY – US
1987
Modernidad: Art Brésilien du 20ème Siècle, Musée d’Art Moderne de la Ville de Paris – FR
Imaginários Singulares – 19a Biennale Internacional de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo – BR
Ao Colecionador, Museu do Arte Moderna de Rio de Janeiro – BR
1083 C, Galeria de Arte UF, Niterói – BR
1986
Trienal Latino americana de Arte Sobre Papel, Buenos Aires – AR
Museu de Arte Do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre – BR
1985
Escultura 85, Museo Ambiental de Caracas – VE
Transvanguarda e Cultura, Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Homenagem a Mara Leontina, Petite Galerie, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Contemporary Art of Brazil, Hara Museum of Contemporary Art, Tokyo – JP
1984
GB Arte, Rio de Janeiro – BR
First Salao de Arte da Universidade Federal Fluminese, Niterói – BR
Uma Luz Sobre a Cidade, Galeria de Arte UFF, Niterói – BR
1983
3000 m3, Espaço Cultural Sergio Porto, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Coleçao SULAMERICA Seguros, Sugar Loaf, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1982
Coleçao Gilberto Chateaubriand, Museu de Arte Moderna de Sao Paulo – BR
Coleçao Gilberto Chateaubriand, Museu de Arte Moderna de Rio de Janeiro – BR
Venice Biennial, Brazilian Pavilion, Venice – IT
1981
16th International Biennial of Sao Paulo – BR
1977
National Gallery of Ottawa – CA
1975
Panorama de Arte Actual, Museu de Arte Contemprânea de Sao Paulo – BR
1974
Galeria Intercontinental, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1973
Instituto de Arte de la Universidad Catolica del Valparaiso – CL
* Indicates catalogue
PERFORMANCES
2012
Inauguration, Contemporary Art Center Inhotim, Inhotim, Minas Gerais – BR
2005
Tarde vos Amei Tereza, ENSBA, Paris – FR
2002
Tunga: Nociferatu, Chapelle du Centre de la Vieille Charite, Les Musees de Marseille – FR
2001
Immersions L.N., Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
A Prole de Bebe, Valencia Biennale, Valencia – ES
Visiones del Sur, Museo Nacional Reina Sofia, Palacio Velazquez, Madrid – ES
1998
Tereza B.A.during Johnny Walker Price show, Museu de Bellas Artes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1997
Sempre Gostei de Bagunca for M. Officer, Morumbi Fashion, Sao Paulo – BR
Inside Out, Upside Down, Documenta X, Kassel – DE
1/2 100 Terra, Centro Cultural Itau and the Brasilian Ministry of Culture – BR
1996
An Avant-Garde Walk in Soho 1996, New York – US
Transparencies, Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro – BR
United Artists II – Utopia, Casa das Rosas, Sao Paulo – BR
1995
An Avant-Garde Walk in Venice 1995, Venice Biennale, Venice – IT
1992
Sero te Amavi, Galeria Saramenha – BR
1989
Xifopagas Capilares, Kanaal Art Foundation – BR
1988
Semeando Sereias, Costa Brava, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1985
Xifopagas Capilares, Psychanalyst Congress, Rio de Janeiro – BR
Vanguarda Viperina, Instituto Vital Brazil, Niteroi – BR
EDUCATION
1969-1974
Faculdade de Arquitectura e Urbanismo Santa Ursula, Rio de Janeiro – BR
AWARDS
2005
Selected for the Artes Mundi Prize – UK
2000
The Hugo Boss Prize 2000, Award finalist, Solomon R. Guggenheim Foundation, New York – US
1998
Johnny Walker Prize, Museu Nacional de Bellas Artes, Rio de Janeiro – BR
1997
Acquisition Prize, Museum of Cotemporary Art, Niteroi – BR
Acquisition Prize, Museum of Modern Art, Bahia – BR
Acquisition Prize, Museum of Modern Art, Recife – BR
Embratel Prize, Museum of Modern Art, Sao Paulo – BR
30 years Prize, Museum of Modern Art, Sao Paulo – BR
1986
Trienal Latinamericana de Arte Sobre Papel Prize, Buenos Aires – AR
1985
Museo de Arte Moderno de Caracas – VE
Publications
2007
Tunga, Cosac & Naify Edicoes (limited edition art work of seven books)
Laminated souls, Hans –werner Holzwarth
2001
Tunga, Galerie Nationale de jeu de Paume
1997
Barroco de Lirios, Cosac & Naify Edicoes; 1 edition
“Invisible Adversaries”—Marieluise Hessel Collection at Hessel Museum of Art, Annandale-on-Hudson
The Hessel Museum of Art marks its tenth anniversary with a major exhibition of works from the Marieluise Hessel Collection curated by Lauren Cornell and Tom Eccles entitled “Invisible Adversaries”. The exhibition is inspired by the eponymous 1976 feature film … More
Pilar Corrias at Art Basel Hong Kong 2015
We are excited to announce Pilar Corrias will be participating in Art Basel Hong Kong 2015. The gallery will present works by artists: Koo Jeong A Tala Madani Ken Okiishi Philippe Parreno Shahzia Sikander Rirkrit Tiravanija Tunga Art Basel Hong … More
Tunga at Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt
Tunga is included in the exhibition Brasiliana. Installations from 1960 to the Present at Schirn Kunsthalle, Frankfurt. Curated by Martina Weinhart, the exhibition presents installations from the early 1960s through to new artistic positions to demonstrate the specifically Brazilian element of … More
Pilar Corrias at Art Basel
Tunga Art Basel 10 – 16 June 2013 Art Unlimited Pilar Corrias with Mendes Wood, Franco Noero, Meyer Riegger, and Luhring Augustine Booth U7
Tunga at Inhotim, Brumadinho – Minas Gerais, Brazil
On the 6 September 2012, the Instituto Inhotim, the contemporary art museum set in the botanical garden of Minas Gerais, will inaugurate a new pavilion specifically designed for the display of Tunga’s work. The 2,600.00 sq. meters gallery will host … More
Kostas Prapoglou, Review: Tunga: From “La Voie Humide”, Aesthetica January 2015 (Download PDF)
David Ebony, Alchemical Procedures: An Interview with Tunga, Art in America, April 2014 (Download PDF)
David Ebony, Poetic Glue, Art in America, July 2012 (Download PDF)
Tunga: From “La Voie Humide”
From “La Voie Humide” marks the second solo show by the Brazilian artist Tunga at Pilar Corrias, London. One of the most influential artists of his generation, Tunga’s practice encompasses sculpture, performance, poetry, and video. For over thirty years he … More
Tunga ‘Magma’
Pilar Corrias is delighted to announce Magma: an exhibition of new works by Tunga, his first with the gallery. One of the most influential artists of his generation, Tunga (b. Palmares, Brazil 1952) lives and works in Rio de Janeiro. … More