Ernesto Saboia de Albuquerque Neto (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1964– ) is a contemporary visual artist.
Ernesto Neto began exhibiting in Brazil in 1988 and has had solo exhibitions abroad since 1995. He represented with Vik Muniz their country in 2001 Venice Biennale, his installations were featured in Brazil’s national pavilion and in the international group exhibition at the Arsenale.
Neto’s work has been described as “beyond abstract minimalism”. His installations are large, soft, biomorphic sculptures that fill an exhibition space that viewers can touch, poke, and even sometimes walk on or through. These are made of white, stretchy, stockinglike material — amorphous forms stuffed with Styrofoam pellets or, on occasion, aromatic spices. In some installations, he has also used this material to create translucent scrims that transform the space’s walls and floor. His sculptures can be regarded as expression of traditional abstract form, but in their interaction with the viewer, they work on another level as well.
1994, 1997 Escola de Artes Visuais Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro
1994-96 Museu de Arte Moderna, Rio de Janeiro
One of his most acclaimed installation is at the Panthéon in Paris called Léviathan Thot.
In 2009 Neto exhibited a new work at New York’s Park Avenue Armory called anthropodino. Filling the 55,000-square-foot (5,100 m2) hall, the aim is to help the Armory reposition itself as a big-art destination like the Turbine Hall in London’s Tate Modern.
In 2010 he exhibited a popular display at London’s Hayward Gallery called ‘Edges of the World’.
Neto has been awarded chevalier de L’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres.
