Introduction

Through his dot-painting technique, Richard Brandão allows us to experience a unique form of perception. In his work, the artist shows how life consists of a series of isolated moments.

The roots for the “fragmented” sensory perception date back to the artist’s childhood. Having moved frequently as a child, Brandão became familiar with new surroundings, soaking up peculiarities singular to the countless people, routines, and places he encountered.

We can experience this concept of fragmentation when we visually connect the individual elements in Brandão’s work. Viewing the pieces from close up, we see intriguing, colorful dots resembling an abstract work. With every step back, however, the faces of famous pop icons crystallize. In this way, it is a playful examination of how the unfamiliar becomes familiar, a transformation only possible from a certain distance.

Richard Brandão’s acrylic paintings are a fascinating demonstration of the importance and influence of proximity when it comes to our perceptions.

Curriculum vitæ

Artist Richard Brandão was born in 1980 in Minas Gerais, Brazil. A self-taught artist, Brandão first began to paint at the age of twelve. Brandão was confronted with the incredible diversity of Brazil at an early age as a result of moving frequently from city to city. His art has featured in numerous exhibitions in Brazil and other countries around the world.