Aurelino dos Santos
Born 1942 in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
Lives and works in Salvador, Bahia, Brazil
With a diagnosis of schizophrenia and difficulties in oral expression, Aurelino dos Santos produces work that provokes, in a simple and poetic way, discussions about the border between artistic creation and psychic suffering. His art has a strong personal sense, a search for overcoming melancholy and for emotional balance. Generally identified as ‘naïf,’ a term that designates self-taught artists who develop a personal and original language of expression, his production brings constructive and figurative characteristics amalgamated with a certain visual refinement.  Refined and rich in details, his paintings portray geometric shapes, the city, streets, and buildings. They reference urban aerial views, revealing the routes of a solitary wanderer. His works have been presented in international exhibitions in São Paulo, Paris, Madrid, and Valencia.
Aurelino dos Santos, Untitled(2), 1993, Acrylic on card, 63 x 79 cm. Courtesy of HOA Galeria.

Artists 2022