(Itaparica, Brazil)
The III Bahia Biennial has invited 13 artists and one critic for a two-month stay at the Instituto Sacatar. During this period of artistic residency they are developing specific projects for the Biennial.
The Instituto Sacatar operates an international residency programme for artists in its headquarters at Itaparica Island, in the Todos os Santos Bay, in Salvador’s metropolitan area, in the state of Bahia, Brazil.
Based on the anatomical theaters of the human body that came about in the mid 1500s in some European cities, the artist-in-residence Camila Sposati developed the project “Teatro Anatômico da Terra” [“Anatomical Theatre of the Earth”].
According to the artist, the idea of the project is to rebuild the 1500s anatomical theatre in the shape of the anatomical theatre of the Earth, in the 21st century. “The research on Northeastern Brazil interests me greatly, it is like find out new things inside those we are used to seeing. I like being able to dialogue, this context is free for working, barely involved with commercial artists and gallery matters”, says Camila Sposati.
Mainly used by medicine students interested in watching human body dissection, the anatomical theatres were temporary contemplation theatres. These constructions characterised a motivation to study the human anatomy and understanding its functioning, enabling the elaboration of scientific theories.
To put up the work, the Padova Anatomical Theatre was used as model, built in 1595, fitting to 80 people and serving as model for other anatomical theatres built later. Its main characteristic is that its build focusing on the body, an idea originally from a joint creation by anatomist Hieronymi Fabricii, theologian Paolo Sarpi and architect Dario Varotari. The human eye was used as model, developing the work’s conception, emphasizing its central point, where the human body would be placed, as object of study.
*original text from the III Bienal da Bahia website.
“Teatro Anatômico da Terra”, residency project by Camila Sposati
On view through 7th September, a Instituto Sacatar
III Bienal da Bahia
On view at several exhibition spaces in Salvador and inner cities
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