All Threats Came in Waves
2024
Yoga mannequins, ghillie suits, LCD monitors, vinyl

During the beloved presidency of John F. Kennedy, discussions between Kennedy and the American Ambassador in Brazil, Lincoln Gordon, led to the planning of the removal of the democratically elected president of Brazil, João Goulart. This covert operation, later known as Operation Brother Sam, marked a significant intervention by the United States in Brazilian politics. 

I grew up under this military dictatorship. The media stream that came in the airwaves in Brazil portrayed a benign image of the U.S. military personnel with TV shows like The A Team, I Dream of Jeannie, and Bewitched to name a few. This innocuous appearance was at odds with the brutality of the regime the population experienced. Students were tortured and killed, artists were censored, congress dissolved, habeas corpus suspended. No elections for the next 24 years. Through media and entertainment, we got to see how Americans generally lived well while witnessing the erosion of our democracy and all of its consequences. 

The territory we call Brazil is historically a place of invasions, international disputes, forced displacement and dispossession. From European settlers to the capitalist wars led by the United States in the 20th century, a lot of the threats came in physical waves and later, by airwaves. 

All Threats Came in Waves speaks about a process of becoming that extrapolates the United States’ borders involving a more sophisticated invasion that doesn't require boots on the ground- a war fought with economic sanctions and incentives hidden under a thick layer of propaganda.

About the artist

Artur Silva is a multidisciplinary visual artist and educator. He received a Masters in Fine Arts from the California Institute of the Arts (CalArts). 

His work has been exhibited nationally and internationally at institutions such as the Van Abbe Museum in The Netherlands, the Ludwig Foundation in Havana, the Smart Museum in Chicago, the Indianapolis Museum of Art, Centro Cultural de España in Mexico City, Indiana State Museum, Bemis Center for Contemporary Art, Singapore Institute of Contemporary Arts, among others. In November, 2023 Silva had his first solo exhibit in London at Lullo Pampoulides Gallery. 

His work received recognition in publications including The New York Times, Art News, Art in America, Forbes, PBS’ Many Rivers To Cross series, among others. 

Silva has received a number of awards including a Pollock-Krasner Grant (NYC), NALAC grant (San Antonio), Efroymson Contemporary Art Fellowship (Indianapolis), the Christel DeHaan Artist of Distinction Award (Indianapolis Arts Council- two time recipient), Foundation for Contemporary Arts (NYC), among others. He was nominated for a Joan Mitchell Award.

As an educator, Silva has taught at Herron School of Art & Design, Indiana University South Bend Campus, Franklin College and DePauw University.