Jogos Perigosos, de 1990 (Divulgação)
Born in Fortaleza, Ceará, José Leonilson Bezerra Dias (1957-1993), or simply Leonilson as he is known, was a painter, sculptor and designer of immeasurable importance in the national art scene and in the hall of great artists of the world. His works , mostly autobiographical, includes paintings, drawings, embroidery and some sculptures and installations.
Sem título, de 1983. Guache sobre papel. Foto de Sérgio Guerini (Divulgação)
A Consequência do Sonho, de 1987. Acrília sobre tela (Divulgação)
Now, twenty-four years after his death, the Ceará native is being honored in his homeland with the exhibition “
Leonilson: living archive and memory ”, which is on display at the Cultural Space of the University of Fortaleza. The exhibition is part of the initiative to complete cataloguing of his work, scheduled for publication in May of this year and supported by the Edson Queiroz Foundation. Known as
Catalogue Raisonné (as the complete and comprehensive compilation of an artist's work is called), the project, directed by Ana Lenice de Fátima Dias, Leonilson's sister, will be published in three volumes and will feature around 3,800 works left by him.
The Ceará native is the first contemporary name to have his work collected in a
Catalogue Raisonné. In addition to him, names such as Volpi, Portinari and Tarsila do Amaral appear on the list.
Rios de palavras, de 1987. Acrílica sobre lona (Divulgação)
Leonilson Service: living archive and memory When? From March 15th to July 9th, from 9am to 7pm
Where? Unifor Cultural Space - Washington Soares Avenue, 1321 - Fortaleza, CE
