{"id":1169,"date":"2023-01-06T11:53:52","date_gmt":"2023-01-06T11:53:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/?page_id=1169"},"modified":"2026-03-25T19:36:16","modified_gmt":"2026-03-25T19:36:16","slug":"a-multifacetada","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/a-multifacetada\/","title":{"rendered":"A Multifacetada \/ The Multi-Faceted"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

An Artistic Intervention Dedicated to Dona Leopoldina <\/p>\n\n\n\n

3 Permanent Photographic Wall Exposures in Bras\u00edlia, Brazil. Realized in December 2022 at the following locations:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    \n
  1. Espa\u00e7o Cultural Renato Russo<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  2. Bibliotheca Demonstrative do Brasil<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
  3. Entrance Hall of the Austrian Embassy in Bras\u00edlia<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n

    On the occasion of the bicentennial of Brazilian Independence in 2022, a portrait of Dona Leopoldina\u2014the Vienna-born Habsburg archduchess and later Empress of Brazil\u2014was created at each of these three sites. In 1822, Dona Leopoldina played a decisive role in laying the foundations for independence, for which she is still revered in Brazil today.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    During her short life, her aristocratic opportunities and innate curiosity allowed her to acquire the era\u2019s foremost expertise in mineralogy and botany. She researched and collected extensively, as did the delegation of scientists (including Johann Natterer and Johann Pohl) and painters (such as Thomas Ender) who accompanied her to Brazil.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

    In these three portraits of Dona Leopoldina, a delicate web of leaf veins partially overlays her face; in one of the images, it bisects her countenance. On one hand, this refers to her affinity for the natural sciences and the beginning of systematic research into Brazil’s flora and fauna during that period. On the other, it reflects Leopoldina\u2019s inner turmoil\u2014her homesickness juxtaposed with her love for Brazil\u2014as well as the enduring negative impacts of colonialism and the inequalities within Brazilian society that persist to this day.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
    1. Espa\u00e7o Cultural Renato Russo<\/em><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      \"\"
      Dona Leopoldina, Photographic Wall Exposure, 192 cm x 135 cm, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      A temporary darkroom was specially constructed for the production and removed upon completion. The Espa\u00e7o Cultural Renato Russo is a public art space managed by the municipality of Bras\u00edlia; the venue itself is vibrantly utilized for dance, workshops, readings, concerts, and exhibitions. The building once served as an industrial hall for automobile production. The connection between a public, democratic space and the portrait of an empress from Brazilian history finds expression here, resulting in an image with a raw and wild appearance. In this work, the network of leaf veins divides the face into equal parts, reflecting Leopoldina\u2019s inner turmoil, while simultaneously serving as a reference to the positive and negative consequences of the natural science expeditions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      2. Bibliotheca Demonstrativa do Brasil<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      \"\"
      A Multifacetada, Photographic Wall Exposure, 288 cm x 230 cm, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      This library is a federal institution, supported by the Brazilian federal government. The image spans the entire height of the auditorium wall\u2014a space used for lectures and film screenings\u2014where it has developed a raw and painterly appearance. The concept behind exposing the portrait of Dona Leopoldina within the library lies in her profound interest in science and her dedication to natural history studies and research\u2014resources that this very library provides. The quote featured in the image, „Eu troco minha pele e me torno Brasileira \u2013 I am shedding my skin and becoming Brazilian,“<\/em> is taken from her extensive correspondence with her sister in Europe. The library serves as a vibrant, publicly utilized space.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

      <\/p>\n\n\n\n

      3. Austrian Embassy in Bras\u00edlia \/ Brazil<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

      \n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \"\"<\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
      \n
      \"\"
      A Multifacetada, Photographic Exposure on a Wall Panel, 230 cm x 164 cm, 2022<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

      This portrait serves as a contribution to the historical connection between Austria and Brazil. For this location, the work is presented as a wall panel, hanging in the embassy’s entrance hall. It is an accurate, sober-looking image\u2014almost reminiscent of the official paintings and photographs of noble families\u2014yet the accompanying quote may cause a sense of irritation or intrigue.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

      An Artistic Intervention Dedicated to Dona Leopoldina 3 Permanent Photographic Wall Exposures in Bras\u00edlia, Brazil. Realized in December 2022 at the following locations: On the…<\/p>\n

      Continue ReadingA Multifacetada \/ The Multi-Faceted<\/span><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1169","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry","entry"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1169","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1169"}],"version-history":[{"count":16,"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1169\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2079,"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1169\/revisions\/2079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/birgitgraschopf.com\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1169"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}