Samico [Gilvan José de Meira Lins Samico]
1928, Recife | PE - Brazil
2013, Olinda | PE - Brazil
An important cultural personality of Pernambuco, Gilvan Samico combines in his works, of a rare balance, the Iberian tradition with the popular artistry of the Brazilian northeast: the xylographs. By the end of the 40s, he attended classes at the Ateliê da Sociedade de Arte Moderna do Recife, where he was guided by the sculptor Abelardo da Hora. Later, in 1957, he studied xylographs with Livio Abramo, at the Escola de Artesanato do Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo. In the following year He moved to Rio de Janeiro and studied engraving with Oswaldo Goeldi, at the Escola Nacional de Belas Artes. He returned to Pernambuco, in 1965, settling in Olinda, where he lives and works up to now.
Gilvan Samico was one of the important members of Movimento Armorial, created by the wirter Ariano Susassuna to valorize a northeastern culture of Iberian reference. In 1997 he had a commemorative exhibition at the Centro Cultural do Banco do Brasil, at Rio de Janeiro. To the art critic Frederico Moraes, Gilvan Samico “researches extensively each one of his subjects and the correspondent symbols. He studied exhaustively the compartmentalization of space and its rapport with the narrative cadence. He sketches, makes rough draughts with pencil or ink, searching for the right colour, to be contrasted with the plain black and with the white material, which works as light or space. He exercises with the gouge chisel all sort of cuts up to find the ideal ‘texture’ for that subject, and the ‘right tonality’. Time runs slowly in the affective land of the artist”.
Source: Catalog - POP BRASIL: popular Art and the popular in Art | CCBB – Gama, 2002
Individual Exhibitions:
2004 Samico: from drawing to engraving, at Pinacoteca do Estado, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2003 The other side of Rio, at Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1999 Gilvan Samico: 40 years of engraving, at the Pampulha Art Museum, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1998 Gilvan Samico: 40 years of engraving, at MAMAM, Recife, PE, Brazil
1997 Gilvan Samico: 40 years of engraving, at the CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1996 Gilvan Samico: prints and paintings, at Galeria Sobrado, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1995 Gilvan Samico, Escritório de Arte Sylvio Nery da Fonseca, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 Complicities, Cooperativa Árvore, Porto, Portugal
1989 Gilvan Samico, Bolsa de Arte Porto Alegre, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
1985 Gilvan Samico, Museo Nacional de las Culturas Populares, Mexico City, Mexico
1970 Gilvan Samico, Galeria de Arte da Casa do Brasil, Madrid, Spain
1966 Gilvan Samico, Galeria do Teatro Popular no Nordeste, Recife, PE, Brazil
1966 Gilvan Samico, Universidade Federal da Paraíba (UFPB)/ Federal University of Paraíba (UFPB), João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
1965 Gilvan Samico, Petite Galeria, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1964 Gilvan Samico, City Hall Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1960 Gilvan Samico, Lemac Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
Collective Exhibitions:
2003 Brazilian Art in the Fadel Collection: from the restlessness of the modern to the autonomy of language, at the CCBB, Brasília, DF, Brazil
2003 Ver de Novo/Ver o Novo (See it again / See the new), at MAMAM, Recife, PE, Brazil
2003 Gravura Vai Bem, Obrigado: Brazilian historical and contemporary engraving, Espaço Virgílio, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2003 Art and Society: a controversial relationship, at Itaú Cultural, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2003 Tomie Ohtake at the Spiritual Plot of Brazilian Art, at the Tomie Ohtake Institute, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2004 90 Years of Tomie Ohtake, at MNBA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2004 Tomie Ohtake at the Spiritual Plot of Brazilian Art, at MNBA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2002 Brazilian Art in the Fadel Collection: from the restlessness of the modern to the autonomy of language, at the CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2002 Caminhos do Contemporâneo 1952-2002, at the Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2002 Brazilian Art in the Fadel Collection: from the restlessness of the modern to the autonomy of language, at the CCBB, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2002 Pop Brasil: a arte popular e o popular na arte / Pop Brasil: popular and the popular in art, at the CCBB, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2001 Collections from Brazil, at CCBB, Brasília, DF, Brazil
2001 Investigations, The Brazilian Engraving, Itaú Cultural, Brasília, DF, Brazil
2001 Investigations, The Brazilian Engraving, Itaú Cultural Gallery, Penápolis, SP, Brazil
2001 Liba and Rubem Knijnik Collection: contemporary Brazilian art, Margs, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
2001 The Sound Image of Antônio Carlos Jobim, Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2001 Blind Mirror: selections from a contemporary collection, Paço Imperial, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
2001 Blind Mirror: selections from a contemporary collection, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2000 Brazil + 500 The Rediscovery Exhibition. Contemporary Art, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
2000 Os Anjos estão de volta / The angels are back, Pinacoteca do Estado, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1999 Rio Gravura Exhibition, Guita and José Mindlin Collection, Espaço Cultural dos Correios (Post Office Cultural Center), Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1999 Rio Gravura Exhibition, Modern Brazilian Engraving: National Museum of Fine Arts, MNBA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1999 A Ressacralização da Arte, Sesc Pompéia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 The Art of Exhibiting Art, Museu de Arte Moderna de São Paulo / Museum of Modern Art, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 Modern and Contemporary in Brazilian Art: Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection - MAM / RJ, at MASP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1998 The Collectors - Guita and José Mindlin: matrices and engravings, at the Sesi Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1997 Contemporary Traits: homage to Brazilian engraving, at Barra Mansa University Center, Barra Mansa, RJ, Brazil
1997 Brasilidade: collection of Brazilian artists, Galeria Potrich Arte Contemporânea, Goiânia, GO, Brazil
1997 Contemporary Brazilian Prints, at the University of Dallas. Haggar Art Gallery, Irving, United States
1997 Contemporary Brazilian Prints, at Gallery at The University of Texas of the Permian Basin, Odessa, United States
1997 Contemporary Brazilian Prints, at Collin County Community College. Spring Creek Art Gallery, Plano, United States
1997 Contemporary Brazilian Prints, at Midwestern State University Art Gallery, Wichita Falls, United States
1994 Complicities, Cooperativa Árvore, Porto, Portugal
1994 Recife-Raízes-Results, Alfândega Building, Porto, Portugal
1994 Recife Painting and Poetry, Rodrigues Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1994 Bienal Brasil 20th Century, Biennial Foundation, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 The Engraving Clubs of Brazil, at the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 Poetics of Resistance: aspects of Brazilian engraving, at the Sesi Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1994 Woodcut: from the twine to the gallery, Companhia do Metropolitano de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1993 Collective Workshop, Km Wolff, Hamburg, Germany
1993 Xilogravura: do cordel à galeria, Fundação Espaço Cultural da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, Brazil
1993 Recife in the 1930s, Rodrigues Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1993 Brazil: 100 Years of Modern Art, MNBA, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1992 10ª Mostra da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba/Mostra América, Museu da Gravura,, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1992 Collective Workshop, Gallery of the Cândido Mendes Cultural Center, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1992 Engraving of Art in Brazil: proposal for a mapping, CCBB, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1992 Pernambuco: aesthetics of resistance, Montesanti Roesler Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1991 Viva Brasil Viva, Konstavdelningen och Liljevalchs Konsthall, Stockholm, Sweden
1991 Art on Paper III, Gamela Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1991 Masters and Contemporary, Rodrigues Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1991 Women, Galeria Futuro 25, Recife, PE, Brazil
1991 Pernambuco: aesthetics of resistance, Artespaço Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1991 A Mata, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1991 Man and Nature, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1990 9ª Mostra da Gravura Cidade de Curitiba, Museu da Gravura, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1990 Collective Exhibition, Art Center, Dronninglund, Denmark
1990 Permanence of Painting, Atelier Coletivo, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1989 Rhythms and Forms: contemporary Brazilian art, Charlottenborg Museum, - Copenhagen, Denmark
1989 Viva Olinda Viva, Atelier Coletivo, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1989 Nature of Painting, Adalgisa Falcão Cultural Center, Recife, PE, Brazil
1989 Brazilian Engraving: 4 themes, EAV / Parque Lage, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1988 3 Generations in the Pernambucana Art, Galeria Stúdio A, Recife, PE, Brazil
1988 Gil Vicente, Gilvan Samico and José Barbosa, Estudio A Galeria de Arte, Recife, PE, Brazil
1988 63/66 Figure and Object, Galeria Millan, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1988 Rhythms and Forms: contemporary Brazilian art, Sesc / Pompéia, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1987 18th Panorama of Current Brazilian Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1987 Art on Paper, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1986 Pernambucanos in Brasília, ECT Art Gallery, Brasília, DF, Brazil
1986 Imagine: the planet salutes the comet, Arte Galeria, Fortaleza, CE, Brazil
1986 The City of Recife Today, Galeria Futuro 25, Recife, PE, Brazil
1985 Grabado, Cordel y Canción: el Nordeste del Brasil, National Museum of Popular Cultures, Mexico City, Mexico
1985 Outdoor Painting, Candido Mendes Cultural Center, Grand Gallery, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1985 Highlights of Contemporary Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1984 Woodcutting in the History of Brazilian Art, Casa Romário Martins, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1984 Dix Artistes de Recife, Espace Latino-Américain, Paris, France
1984 Gravadores Brasileiros Anos 50/60, Galeria Campus, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
1984 Woodcutting in the History of Brazilian Art, Casa Romário Martins, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1984 Gilberto Chateaubriand Collection: portrait and self-portrait of Brazilian art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1984 Tradition and Rupture: synthesis of Brazilian art and culture, Fundação Bienal, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1983 2nd Exhibition of the Abelardo Rodrigues Collection of Fine Arts, MAC / PE, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1981 Brazilian Contemporary, São Paulo Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1981 Multiple Trends, Ranulpho Art Gallery, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, Palácio das Artes, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura/ Hilton Engraving Highlights, ECT Art Gallery, Brasilia, DF, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura/ Hilton Engraving Highlights, Casa da Gravura Solar do Barão, Curitiba, PR, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, Santa Catarina Art Museum, Florianópolis, SC, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, Margs, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, MAMAM, Recife, PE, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, at Teatro Castro Alves, Salvador, BA, Brazil
1981 Destaques Hilton de Gravura / Hilton Engraving Highlights, at MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1980 12th Panorama of the Current Brazilian Art, MAM / SP - Museum of Modern Art Award, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1977 9 Engraving Artists, Abelardo Rodrigues Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1977 2nd Arte Agora: vision of the land, MAM / RJ, Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
1975 Opening Collective, Ranulpho Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1974 The Northeast and its Cultural Roots, Federal University of Pernambuco, UFPE, Recife, PE, Brazil
1973 33 Brazilian Recorders, at the Casa de Olinda Gallery, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1973 Franciscan Exhibition, Ranulpho Art Gallery, Recife, PE, Brazil
1972 Collective at the Casa de Olinda Gallery, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1972 Art / Brazil / Today: 50 years later, Galeria Collectio, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1971 3rd Panorama of the Current Brazilian Art, MAM / SP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1970 40 National and Foreign Prints of the Collection of MAC, MAC / PE, Olinda, PE, Brazil
1970 40 National and Foreign Prints of the MAC Collection, Faculty of Philosophy, Sciences and Letters of Penápolis, Penápolis, SP, Brazil
1968 40 National and Foreign Prints of the MAC Collection, University of São Paulo, Piracicaba, SP, Brazil
1967 Oficina Pernambucana, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1966 O Cruzeiro, Branch of Jornal O Cruzeiro, Recife, PE, Brazil
1966 40 National and Foreign Prints of the MAC Collection, School of Plastic Arts of Ribeirão Preto, Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brazil
1966 40 National and Foreign Prints of the MAC Collection, MAC / USP, São Paulo, SP, Brazil
1966 International Printmaking Exhibition, Vancouver, Canada
1966 The Face and the Work, Galeria Casa Holanda, Recife, PE, Brazil
1962 New Art of Brazil, Walker Art Center, Minneapolis, United States
1962 2ª Panorâmica de Artes Plásticas de Pernambuco, Recife International Club, Recife, PE, Brazil
1962 Arte de América y España, Madrid, Spain
1962 Civilization of the Northeast, Museum of Modern Art of Bahia (MAM / BA), Salvador, BA, Brazil
1960 Art Gallery of Recife Exhibition, at Galeria de Arte do Recife, Recife, PE, Brazil
1959 Panoramic of Fine Arts of Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
Selected Publications:
2019 Samico, Vilma Eid and Ivo Mesquita, Lis Gráfica, page 26
2010 Brazilian Art beyond the system, Galeria Estação, Lis Gráfica, page 38, 39
2006 Viva Cultura Viva do Povo Brasileiro, Museo Afro, page 245
2005 Brazilian, Brazilians, Emanoel Araújo, AfroBrasil Museum, Ipsis Gráfica e Editora
2005 Espaço Brasil: General Catalog, France, Paris
2002 POP BRASIL: A arte no popular e o popular na arte / POP BRASIL: popular art and the popular in art, catalog of the Banco do Brasil Cultural Center exhibition, Paulo, Klein, page 108, 109
2011 Samico, Weydson Barros Leal, Bem-te-vi, page 1, 49, 55, 113, 115, 118, 119, 123, 124, 125, 129, 131, 133, 135, 137, 141, 143, 196
1998 Samico | 40 years of engraving, Banco do Brasil Cultural Center, page 111, 112
