PROPHECY

Plain Gallery is pleased to present Prophecy, the exhibition of paintings by brazilian artists Rafaella Braga and Matheus Marques Abu, with the support of the Brazilian Consulate in Milan and the Galeria Karla Osorio.

Prophecy is characterized as form of divine manifestation. A key to unlocking it is to understand, not only the literal meaning of a word but also what it symbolizes.

Rafaella began tracing her own path in arts through graffiti and later finding herself in painting, exploring it freely and without any pre-conception. She has been developing and materializing her ideas mostly on large scale canvases, revealing a physically intense working method. Using the canvas as a diary, her practice has the body as primer matter, investigating the self outlined by her vulnerabilities and secrets, and revolves around the interplay between reality and fantasy, identity and time, offering a dreamlike alternative to reality.

The paintings that Matheus created during his residency in Milano, going against the research he did; inspired by the creation myths of the Yoruba culture. “Like all the figures and movements I see in the paintings, the expectations, the readiness situation, makes me think of Prophecy.”

Rafaella Braga (Goiania, 1995) studied at Teatro Basileu Franca Goiania (2013-2014 – Theather Studies, 2012-2016 – Drawing and Sculpture), bachelor in visual arts of Federal University of Goiás (UFG), Goiania, Brasil. In 2022 her works have been exhibited at Céu da Boca at Galeria Kogan Amaro, Sao Paulo, The Sky Made me a Reality at Processa Gallery – New York, Calvin Klein X Hypebeast Campaign, London (project). Lives and works between Berlin and New York.

Matheus Marques Abu (Rio de Janeiro 1997). Self-taught artist, develops independent research on ancestry, spirituality and the African diaspora in Brazil. He assisted great artists such as Panmela Castro, in the exhibition “Rua!” at Museu de Arte do Rio (MAR) and for Tomaz Viana, Toz in the show Cultura Insфnia at Caixa Cultural. In 2022 his works has been exhibited at Art Rio and SP-Arte, Gallery Karla Osorio, Brasilia. Lives and works in Rio de Janeiro.

WORKS