A samba musician, composer, and instrumentalist, Heitor dos Prazeres also held a prominent place in the visual arts. His extensive body of work—including paintings, musical compositions, drawings, records, and costumes—reflects his multifaceted artistic practice and engagement with diverse forms of cultural expression in Brazil’s complex sociocultural landscape. His paintings evoke his daily life experiences, touching on migration flows, the transition from rural to urban settings, popular religiosity, police repression, capoeira, music, and human connections.
The artist’s trajectory, within the context of modern art in Brazil, aligns with the broader movement to affirm the foundations of a genuinely Brazilian culture, deeply influenced by Afro-Brazilian heritage and popular traditions. The Frevo presented at the 14th Mercosul Biennial is one of several works by the artist bearing the same title and theme. More than just a rhythm or dance, frevo is one of Brazil’s most renowned popular cultural expressions, originating in the state of Pernambuco.
Fernanda Soares da Rosa
Heitor dos Prazeres (Brazil, 1889-1966) was a painter, composer and carpenter. He began painting around 1937 as a self-taught artist, encouraged by the journalist and artist Carlos Cavalcanti. He participated in and won an award at the 1st International Biennial of São Paulo. He was honored with a special room at the 2nd International Biennial of São Paulo in 1953. He became a prominent artist, working as a composer, instrumentalist, and lyricist of Brazilian popular music. He participated in the founding of the first samba associations in Rio de Janeiro, among them Estação Primeira de Mangueira. His works are in collections in important Brazilian and international museums. He lived in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
