Ivens Machado

Ivens Machado (Florianópolis, Brazil, 1942–Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, 2015) made extensive use of materials drawn from the construction industry. In his work, sculpture and architecture enter into a symbiotic relationship, though not without tension and conflict.

The artist assimilates the legacy of the constructive movements that emerged in Europe, placing them in dialogue with Brazilian vernacular architecture in order to highlight the asymmetries that characterize the globalized world. Noble materials traditionally associated with the history of sculpture, as well as qualities such as refinement and polish, are set aside in favor of ordinary elements and rough finishes that might be found in the most modest residential constructions.