Tunga Biography

Brazil

Tunga is the youngest of a group of conceptual Brazilian artists that emerged in the 70s, following the pioneering work of sculptor and performance artist Helio Oitcica.

Originally trained as an architect, he left architecture in 1974 to enter the world of visual arts.

Considered today to be one of the most important contemporary Brazilian artists, Tunga?s work can be found in the world?s principal art museums. His sculpture is influenced by performance art, photography, drawings, and video, and investigates themes of language, myths, and poetry, using materials like steel, copper, and wax.

He often works like a story teller within a work of literary fiction (where allegory is frequently employed), which allows his objects to remain independent from their historical contexts.

He has recently exhibited at the Reina Sofia Museum in Madrid, Spain.