THE MATERIALITY OF JOÃO OLIVEIRA’S SCULPTURAL ART UNVEILING THE PRESENCE OF UMWELT

Abstract

The objective of this article is to reflect on the artistic productions of João Oliveira through an iconographic and formal analysis of some of his sculptures. Contemplating the imagetic ensemble produced by the artist reveals the presence of the Umwelt within the universe of meaning embedded in the subjective bubble inherent to every human being. It is from the twisted branches of the umburana tree that the convulsive forms of his images emerge. The iconographic analysis is predominantly religious in contrast to the profane. Across his body of work, the presence of geometric shapes is observed, reverberating in cubes and circular forms, similar to intertwining ribbons, although the artist shows a preference for the human figure. Regarding the materiality of his work, the artist uses umburana de espinho as a medium, striving to create almost imperceptible joints to conceal knots or imperfections in the wood.