Entre bordados e sombras : a violência do racismo na vida e obra de Arthur Bispo do Rosário

Abstract

This research highlights, from the analysis of the work África de Bispo produced by Arthur Bispo do Rosario, the identity of a black man descending from the African diaspora and diagnosed with paranoid schizophrenia, who then became one of the exponents of Brazilian contemporary art. When delving into his story, we start with his hometown, where he spent his childhood, and later, we explore the transition from adolescence to adulthood, marked by an abrupt separation from the family. Bispo do Rosario's life trajectory reveals itself to be permeated with violence derived from everyday, scientific, and structural forms of racism, determining elements for his social exclusion and the belated recognition of his work. From the perspective of Cultural History and focusing on racial aspects, we direct our attention to the analysis of his work under the influence of flows between Africa and Brazil. The presence of Africa, drawn by hand with pencil, appears as a rescue and, at the same time, an affirmation of his identity in comparison to the violence he has experienced. Understanding artistic expressions beyond their aesthetic value requires a critical perspective, considering them as a resistance strategy. In this way, this dissertation seeks to contribute to a deeper understanding of the life, racial hierarchies, and unique artistic expression of Arthur Bispo do Rosario.