Dança Dos Reis 

Curator: Wow, this explodes with joy! It's almost like stepping into a vibrant carnival. Editor: Indeed! Today we are exploring “Dança Dos Reis” (Dance of the Kings). It's a mixed-media painting by the renowned Brazilian artist Beatriz Milhazes. Though the date of this piece is unspecified, it aligns with her larger body of contemporary, abstract work. Curator: "Dance of the Kings," yes! It vibrates. Look at those colors—the jewel-toned blues, the fiery reds, all dancing together in these overlapping concentric circles. It's less about representation and more about evoking a feeling, a pure sensory experience. Editor: Exactly. Milhazes draws upon a vast array of influences from Brazilian culture—the Baroque, decorative arts, and even the energy of Brazilian music and dance which she transmutes into visual form, challenging conventional aesthetics within art's institutions. Curator: There’s a rhythm in this repetition. You see it, right? It is as if each layer builds upon the last, creating this sense of joyful, chaotic order. And that impasto! You can almost feel the texture. Editor: Absolutely, the application of paint, with its pronounced texture, enhances that feeling. Think about the larger art market at the time... and Milhazes asserting her own identity within it, making an argument for joy, sensuality, and Brazilian identity, during a period where minimalism reigned supreme. Curator: Well, the canvas itself seems to pulse with that joy. Do you know, when I look at this, I feel connected to something primal. The circles and repeating patterns remind me of mandalas. Editor: I see that too. So many levels working in conversation. It pulls from so many corners of artistic traditions, remixing and reinterpreting. Milhazes seems to say the traditions of art and society are ever present, whether we like it or not. Curator: A really thought-provoking piece. Editor: It’s an excellent way to consider both art as artifact and expression, so thank you for lending us your eye to "Dança Dos Reis"!