Iconografia Preta by Nina Franco

The exhibition Iconografia Preta consists of a series of portraits by the artist Nina Franco that intends to (re) signify the image of people from the Afro-diaspora.

The images aim to engage in a visual dialogue with the audience about black symbols and mythology in order to (re)construct a visual culture, opposing the picturesque images created by the colonial gaze.

In the history of art, bust sculptures are known for portraying gods and goddesses, kings and queens, intellectuals and personalities so as to immortalize the image of those considered of great importance to society. This series draws us into yet another strand of Nina’s work, by photographing anonymous people, cut them out on bust sculpture shape, and painting with different indigenous symbols and myths, Nina wants to obstruct the perception of power and memory, and bring us the interrogation: Who are those shaping History?