Diferença 2018

Alberto Pereira made this large-scale painting, Diferença, using bold marks and stark contrasts to grab your attention. It feels immediate, like a statement laid bare. You can see the wood grain underneath the pinkish ground, a rough texture that adds to the rawness. Look at the black lines of the equal sign turned into a burden. The figure strains under its weight, a chain binding him to the floor. Is it about social inequality, the weight of expectation, or something else entirely? The marks are crude, fast. You can almost feel the artist's hand moving. It's like he’s saying, “Here it is, deal with it.” The floating marks, slashes, or maybe tear drops, add another layer of meaning. Are they tears of pain or perhaps wounds inflicted? Pereira's work brings to mind the raw energy of Jean-Michel Basquiat, who also used simple, bold gestures to convey complex ideas about identity and oppression. It’s a reminder that art can be a powerful tool for speaking truth to power, even when the message is ambiguous.