Ernesto Neto (b. 1964) is a Brazilian artist who combines sculptural, spatial and multisensory elements in his practice. He explores relationships between materials, species and forces of nature.
He draws inspiration from art theories and worldviews emphasizing the idea of reciprocity between all things in existence. Neto’s practice is centred on his interest in multispecies bonding and the themes of care and healing.
Neto’s large spatial installations function as temples of meditation, healing and introspection. Rather than inviting passive observation, his temples are interactive and immersive, momentarily fusing the viewer’s body as a site and component of the artwork.
Neto describes his artworks as animals and landscapes, or rather, ‘animal landscapes’. His work in Helsinki Biennial is the artist’s tribute to the birds living on Vallisaari Island. A large-scale bird-shaped tent of hand-woven netting is filled with glass objects and stones collected on-site.
Artwork location: Vallisaari Island
Photo: Pepe Schettino