Droguinhas (1960)
Monotype on rice paper
45 × 23 cm
Droguinhas, is a seminal work by Mira Schendel that exemplifies her innovative exploration of language, materiality, and form. In this piece, Schendel employs monotype techniques on delicate rice paper, creating intricate, calligraphic marks that evoke both written language and abstract imagery. The ethereal quality of the rice paper, combined with the gestural strokes, invites viewers into a contemplative space where meaning is both suggested and elusive.
This work is part of a broader series where Schendel challenges traditional notions of drawing and sculpture, blurring the boundaries between text and image, material and immaterial. Her use of rice paper, a material known for its fragility and translucency, underscores themes of impermanence and the ephemeral nature of communication.
Mira Schendel (1919–1988) was a Swiss-born Brazilian artist renowned for her profound contributions to postwar Latin American art. Her multidisciplinary practice encompassed drawing, painting, sculpture, and installation, often delving into themes of language, philosophy, and the metaphysical. Schendel's unique approach to materials and form positioned her as a pivotal figure in the Brazilian avant-garde, with her works featured in major institutions worldwide, including the Museum of Modern Art in New York and the Tate Modern in London.
