São Paulo – Venue Casarão de Ideias in Manaus, Amazonas is hosting a digital collage exhibition that traces back the memories of Lebanese photographer Jacques Menassa, opening at 7 pm on Thursday (23). Mémoire Fixe features photo collages by Menassa, who was born in Lebanon – where he lives presently – but spent time living in Brazil’s Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro states as well as in France.
The exhibition’s focal point is Menassa’s arrival in Amazonas, in 1984, but works covering different times in his life are also included, like his three years studying and five years working in France, interspersed with trips to Lebanon, and life in his home country. He spent two one-year and one eight-year period in Brazil, before relocating to Lebanon in 1998.
One of the collages features Brazilian symbols, like a native man alongside pictures of TV presenter Xuxa, Coca-Cola and a VW Beetle, all of which used to national icons. The rivers, boats and colors of Amazonas and Rio de Janeiro’s beaches are also portrayed, as are the Lebanese writer and artist Gibran Khalil Gibran and iconic Lebanese singer Fairuz.
Over 40 pieces will be on show at Casarão de Ideias. The collages were made using computer software. Menassa argues that collage enables a different kind of mind-world relationship. “This iconoclastic aspect gives you total freedom, enables you to take any steps, fuels all sorts of audacity and transgression,” press material quotes the artist as saying.
Menassa first went to Manaus to see relatives who lived there. The region captivated him, and he decided to move in. Although he has been back in Lebanon for 18 years now, he visited Manaus once a year for the last three years. The landscapes of the city of Manaus and the Amazon rainforest are a constant source of inspiration for his photos.
The photographer is currently a resident of Ghosta, north of Beirut, the city he was born in. Photography is not his primary occupation – he owns a business. The holder of degrees in Political Science and Business Administration, Menassa also studied photography in Lebanon’s Holy Spirit University of Kaslik (Usek). His work on the Brazilian Amazon has been featured in several exhibitions in Lebanon.
As of next Monday (27), Jacques Menassa will teach a free one-week photography workshop at the venue. Registration is available onsite.
Quick facts
Exhibition – Mémorie Fixe
Collages by Jacques Menassa
Opening: August 23, 7 pm
Admission free, starting August 24 (exhibition will be open for one month)
Monday to Wednesday, 9 am to noon and 2 pm to 6 pm. Thursday and Friday, 9 am to noon and 2 pm to 10 pm. Saturday and Sunday, 4 pm to 10 pm
Casarão de Ideias, Rua Barroso, 279 – Centro – Manaus – AM
Phone: +55 (92) 3633 4008
Translated by Gabriel Pomerancblum
