Antonio Manuel

Born in Avelãs de Caminho, Portugal, in 1947, is a distinguished sculptor, painter, engraver, and draftsman who moved to Brazil in 1953, settling in Rio de Janeiro. In the 1960s, he studied at the School of Art of Brazil (EAB) under Augusto Rodrigues and attended Ivan Serpa's studio, also auditing classes at the National School of Fine Arts (Enba).

Antonio Manuel began using newspapers and flan as mediums for his works, where he made interventions and created fictitious news addressing political and aesthetic themes. He gained prominence in 1968 with his work "Urnas Quentes" at the exhibition Apocalipopótese, organized by Hélio Oiticica and Rogério Duarte, involving sealed wooden boxes that the public was supposed to break open. In 1970, he innovatively proposed his own body as an artwork at the Modern Art Salon at the Rio de Janeiro Museum of Modern Art (MAM/RJ).

During the 1980s, he shifted his focus to abstract-geometric painting, exploring orthogonals and labyrinthine suggestions. In 1994, he presented the installation "Phantom," reflecting on the Brazilian social and political context, marking his work with deep critical and social reflection. His short films, such as "Madness & Culture" (1973) and "Semi-Optics" (1975), are also noted for their critique of culture and society.

Sources:
Photo: https://galeria-ipanema.com/antonio-manuel/