Challenging the concept of the Tropics – Vortic In Conversation with Vanessa da Silva
Tropicalities is a virtual exhibition part of the Vortic Curated programme, curated by María Wills. Tropicalities, brings together artists from diverse regions to present alternative perspectives of the ‘tropical,’ moving beyond its exotic stereotypes. Featuring seven artists, the exhibition aims to reveal the many complexities and tensions inherent in the concept of the tropical. The virtual exhibition is currently on view on Vortic until 27th February 2024.
Vortic had the privilege of speaking with featured artist Vanessa da Silva – born and raised in São Paulo. She is an artist who works across sculpture, installation, textiles and performance. She discussed her featured works and experience of exhibiting in the virtual space.
Vanessa da Silva about her works and exhibiting in the virtual
Vanessa da Silva discusses how her practice draws on her background in Brazil and her experience as an immigrant in the UK, looking at themes of identity, immigration, and displacement as she tries to make sense of herself through the dislocation between these two places.
“The themes of my work is always looking back on my background and putting into relation and through my own experience of an immigrant in Europe. So things around identity, immigration, displacement, I would say sometimes it’s like trying to make sense of my own, my own self through this, this dislocation to the UK.”
“When I saw the exhibition virtually, I thought it was incredible how real it feels.”
She discusses exhibiting in the virtual and how it reach new audiences beyond those that would otherwise be able to see the exhibition. VR as well brings a new way to experience art, “I like the idea of thinking of the future that you can experience works of art in different ways. I think also with the VR in terms of if there is a sculpture, if you can walk around the work. So I think in terms of the digital, there’s so many possibilities that can be explored.”
Tropicalities is on view on from 5th December to 27th February 2024.
