A bit of Latin America came to Nottingham Contemporary in the form of Chico Da Silva (1910-1985), who was a self-taught and formidable Brazilian painter of indigenous descent. His story began with him painting fantastical murals of real and imagined Amazonian flora and fauna on the walls of fishermen’s houses using charcoal and natural pigments.
This exhibition was vibrant and accessible, which I have to say was a pleasant surprise at the Contemporary, where I often struggle to be moved by work. The colours were superbly executed, particularly with the walls of the space being painted a subtle orange, which was a pleasant change from the blinding white we usually experience.
Are these creatures imagined or dreamed? Wherever they have come from, it shows a deep love and respect for the wonder of nature.
