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Title

Sonambulinos

1999

Artist

Ernesto Neto

Brazil

1964 –

  • Details

    Other Title
    Brother and sister
    Date
    1999
    Media category
    Sculpture
    Materials used
    Lycra tulle, polystyrene
    Dimensions
    110.0 x 130.0 x 70.0 cm overall approx.
    Signature & date

    Not signed. Not dated.

    Credit
    Gift of Geoff and Vicki Ainsworth 2001
    Location
    Not on display
    Accession number
    333.2001
    Copyright
    © Ernesto Neto

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    Artist information
    Ernesto Neto

    Works in the collection

    2

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  • About

    Neto is amongst a group of artists who emerged in the 1990s in Brazil. Influenced by Brazilian Neo-concretism his work is strongly attached to the body and the senses and although mainly abstract in form, the sculptures have organic qualities.

    These two large, voluptuous 'Sonambulinos', which is Portuguese for ‘little sleepwalkers’ are part of the artist’s series of ‘ovaloids’ which are a group of soft sculptures that invite the viewer to hug and interact with them. This is a pair of sacks tied at the top by what could only be an umbilical cord except for the belly-button holes in their anatomy. The cord ties them together as mother and child or as brothers. Although abstract in their essence, their almost bodily shapes and the lycra they are made from are very appealing to the senses and make them seem like they would move when no body’s watching. (EF)

  • Exhibition history

    Shown in 2 exhibitions

    • Orifice, Australian Centre for Contemporary Art, South Bank, 08 Oct 2003–30 Nov 2003

    • Soft Sculpture, National Gallery of Australia, Canberra, 24 Apr 2009–19 Jul 2009

  • Bibliography

    Referenced in 2 publications

Other works by Ernesto Neto