The art scene vibrated with the arrival of the new decade. He attributed significance to the number eight—"round and also a symbol of infinity"—yet, consciously or not, a strong sense of optimism prevailed, driven by the impending end of the dictatorship.
Marking a particularly significant milestone as he celebrates his 80th birthday, Aquila, considered one of the most active painters of his generation, presents "Em Torno dos 80," a memorable exhibition defined by warm and meaningful reunions. Opening on August 26, the exhibition honors the master with the participation of artists who worked alongside him at Parque Lage during the 1980s—a period marked by a resurgence of freedom of expression, particularly within the realm of painting.
The curatorial proposal features around 30 key figures in the history of Brazilian art, with works drawn from both private and the artists' own collections. Adriano Mangiavacchi, Ana Durães, Angelo Venosa, Anna Bella Geiger, Alexandre Dacosta, Beatriz Milhazes, Clara Cavendish, Claudio Kuperman, Cristina Canale, Cristina Salgado, Celeida Tostes, Daniel Senise, Jeannette Priolli, João Magalhães, John Nicholson, Jorge Guinle, Luiz Pizarro, Manfredo de Souzanetto, Monica Barki, Malu Fatorelli, Nelly Gutmacher, Ronaldo do Rego Macedo, Rubens Gerchman, Suzana Queiroga, Victor Arruda, and Xico Chaves will showcase their personal ties and highlight Aquila’s role as a catalyst for painting in the 1980s, particularly at the Escola de Artes Visuais do Parque Lage, where he taught starting in 1982 and served as director from 1988 to 1992.
The exhibition is organized by the Fundação Cidade das Artes (presided over by Daniela Santa Cruz) and Galeria Patrícia Costa, and is curated by Monica Xexéo.
