Gabriel Moraes Aquino

Gabriel Moraes Aquino, graduated at the École nationale supérieure des Beaux-Arts in Paris, immerses himself in his work, exploring cultural and social intersections through photography, performance, and multimedia installations. His works reflect on mobility, exoticism, and the creation of spaces for conviviality. Considering cultural hybridization as a space for freedom and collaboration, the artist explores its intersections and intimate exchanges as well as the impermanence of temporary dwellings. Photography is a frequent component of his practice, particularly with the series Negative Palms started in 2021, through which he explores a form of tropicalism around the world. The series was born from the incongruity of palm trees’ presence in France and unexpected places, becoming symbols of exoticism and a desire for elsewhere. For the exhibition “Arcadia,” Gabriel Moraes Aquino presents a photograph of a palm tree taken in the Ticino region, whose emblem present on all postcards is indeed the palm tree. These trees at the heart of the project are presented not only for their imposing stature and beauty but also as vectors for reflection on nature, culture, and even the economy. These “giant herbs,” whose stalks can rise to over 60 meters, play a crucial role in food production in some countries and represent symbols of cultural wealth. This series of images gradually transforms into an exploration of narratives surrounding these living beings, inviting reflection on their presence in a context distant from their natural environment. The works in the series stage images of palm trees that are only revealed through light projected from behind. Viewed from the front, they emit a warm light, reminiscent of the sun; seen from the back, the structure reveals a more raw aspect, exposing framework and construction lights. Presented as installations of UV prints on plexiglass, these large images only exist through this light source that reveals them from the other side, a ghost or mirage that can disappear at any moment.