MASP

Since the 1990s, the artist Sandra Cinto has been creating drawings, painting and installations that depict dreamlike spaces associated with the tradition of the sublime –– the sense of awe we experience in the face of the immensity of the world. The painting Réquiem [Requiem] is a vertical landscape made with blue and black diluted pigments that form dripping stains across the surface. Against a backdrop reminiscent of a waterfall, the artist draws rock formations and irregular steps that start from the base of the composition but lead to nowhere. The word “Requiem” derives from Latin and signifies rest or repose; in Catholicism, it also refers to a mass dedicated to the dead, while in music, it denotes a liturgical prayer. The work Sem título (Noturno) [Untitled (Nocturne)] was especially created for the MASP collection. Horizontal brushstrokes in the background create a sense of depth and atmosphere, whilst in the lower portion, we see a series of marks executed with various techniques, including dots, organic patterns and hatching (parallel lines used to create a three-dimensional effect on a two-dimensional surface), representing the turbulent movement of water. From the upper-right corner to the middle of the painting, forms resembling chandeliers and swings emerge, and are also present in the center of the work, activating a strong sense of fragility given the isolation of such delicate objects amidst the troubled landscape. As well as alluding to the night, the term “nocturne” in the title suggests the eponymous music genre of the 18th century, characterized by intimate and contemplative piano solos.

— Leandro Muniz, assistent curator, MASP, 2023

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