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2007 » Brazil » National section
| Curator: | Antonio Grassi |
| Authors of Theme: | Antonio Grassi |
| Designer / Architect of exhibition: | Daniela Thomas |
| Other collaborators: | Paulo Puerta |
| Institution: | FUNARTE - National Art Foundation |
Nelson Rodrigues' Universe and Dramatic Work
The Brazilian playwright Nelson Rodrigues is the theme of the Brazilian exhibit at the Prague Quadrennial 2007. Nelson was arevolutionary playwright in the evolutionary process of the Brazilian theatre, with his vigorous dramaturgy based on lively and reverberating dialogue. His fantastic characters exorcise their obsessions, manias and ghosts within a frame theatrically strong and surprising. His work, the most staged in Brazil, strongly influenced the country’s scenography. The Brazilian stand in this section, designed by scenographer Daniela Thomas (awarded at the Prague Quadrennial 1999), shows some moments of this disturbing work throughout the history of Brazilian theatre up to today. With the signature of important scenographers, theatre companies and directors, the diversity of colors and shades in Nelson’s work comes to life in this Brazilian exhibition. Welcome to Nelson Rodrigues’ theatrical universe: this provocative playwright and his art which exposed devastating human passions revealing surprising aspects of the Brazilian soul. Nelson Rodrigues Born in Recife, the capital of the Brazilian state of Pernambuco, Nelson moved to Rio de Janeiro in 1916 when his father, Mário Rodrigues, found work in the newspaper Correio da Manhã. Nelson’s life was always tied to journalism and in 1925, at only thirteen years of age, he started to work in A Manhã, a newspaper owned by his father. In 1932 Nelson got a job at the O Globo Newspaper, Brazil’s most-read periodical. Nelson was also famous for his articles about soccer and specifically Fluminense – the traditional soccer team from Rio de Janeiro which he supported. In his role as a novelist, Nelson focused mainly on the dark side of family and human relations. Infidelity, incest, envy and lust were the main themes of the famous Avida como ela é (Life As It Really Is) chronicles, that became a fantastic series in the 90’s. In the 40’s he invented a character, Suzana Flag, to write novels. For a long time people believed the woman (the writer) was real. Beginning in 1940 Nelson divided his time between his job at OGlobo and his personal work as dramatist. In 1941 his first play had its debut, AMulher Sem Pecado (The Woman Without Sin). It was a fiasco, but his second play, Vestido de Noiva (Wedding Dress) was a thundering success. Vestido de Noiva is considered today to be the first modern play of the Brazilian theatre (until then dominated by Chanchadas). Nelson is known, in Latin America, as the Brazilian Shakespeare. He died in 1980.
