Work: Elis Pinto
The exhibition brings together more than two decades of history and collective practices outside traditional circuits
Starting on June 6, the Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center will host the exhibition “Sem/100 artistas – Imaginário Periférico”. The exhibition brings together more than 100 artists linked to the Imaginário Periférico collective, which has been working for more than two decades to build spaces for the production, reflection and circulation of art outside institutional circles. The exhibition will remain on display until August 23, with free admission. The opening will take place on the 6th, from 1 pm to 5 pm, and visitors can visit from Monday to Saturday, from 10 am to 6 pm.
In this edition, the seven founding artists — Raimundo Rodriguez, Deneir, Júlio Ferreira Sekiguchi, Ronald Duarte, Roberto Tavares, Jorge Duarte and Mirela Luz — invite artists who, at different times, have participated in the collective’s actions, such as Suely Farhi, Rosana Ricalde, Felipe Barbosa, Martha Niklaus, Marcos Cardoso, Edmilson and Jorge Fonseca, among others. The works occupy multiple media, such as video, painting, sculpture, photography, drawing and object.
Created in the early 2000s as a response to the lack of cultural policies beyond the central and southern areas of Rio de Janeiro, the Imaginário Periférico collective brings together artists from Baixada Fluminense and other Brazilian territories. Its work is based on building networks and promoting cultural productions outside of major centers. Through research, interventions and collaborative practices, the group strengthens artistic expressions in these regions and challenges the centralizing logic of institutional circuits.
More than breaking geographical or commercial boundaries, the collective’s principle is collaboration, cultivating bonds, affection and sharing. Over the years, its actions have brought together hundreds of artists and diverse audiences, consolidating a space for creation, resistance and circulation of multiple voices and narratives.
“ Regardless of individual poetics, as a political and resistance act, our actions were constructed collectively, in non-institutionalized places and outside the traditional artistic circuit. This allowed us to bring together artists of different origins, ages, genders and social classes, forming an organization capable of reverberating a multiplicity of voices — many of which are invisible due to an exclusionary art system ,” comments Mirela Luz, artist and one of the founders of the collective.
At the same time, the collective is holding an event at the Apo’strophe.arte gallery in Vigo, Spain, bringing together the same artists who participated in the exhibition in Rio. In this international edition, the works are presented in poster format, under the title “SEM/Cem artistas brasileiros em Cartaz”, expanding the dialogues and the circulation of the productions beyond Brazilian territory.
Throughout the exhibition period, the program includes guided tours, discussion groups with artists and activities integrated into the educational program of the Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center.
This edition is supported by the Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center and the City of Rio de Janeiro.
Service: Exhibition Sem/100 artists – Peripheral Imagination
Opening: June 6, 2025, from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Exhibition period: from June 7th to August 23rd, 2025
Visiting hours: Monday to Saturday, from 10am to 6pm
Free entry
Location: Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center
Address: 68, Rio de Janeiro – RJ
Rating: free
Guided tour and discussion with artists from the exhibition
Dates: June 18, July 15 and August 5, at 3pm
Location: Gallery 10 – Hélio Oiticica Municipal Arts Center
Artists
: Helena Trindade, Hugo Houayek, Isabelle Ribeiro, Janete Scarani, Jeff Seon, Jorge Duarte, Jorge Fonseca, Julio Ferreira Sekiguchi, Kakau Bezerra, Lara Lima, LC Carvalho, Lea Soibelman, Ligia Teixeira, Lina Zaldo, Lord, Lourdes Barreto, Lucilia Assis, Luisa Gomes Cardoso, Luiz Badia, Luiza Dideco, Magda Sheeny, Manfredo Souzanetto, Marcelo Valle and Manuela Benini, Marcio Zardo, Marco Antonio Portela, Marcelo Conceição, Marco Aurelio Damaceno, Marcos Cardoso, Marcos Muller, Mariana Maia, Marilene Nacaratti, Martha Niklaus, Mery Horta, Mirela Luz, Monica Coster, Natalia Quindere, Nathalia Izidio, Neno del Castillo, Omarcca, Osvaldo Carvalho, Otamy, Otavio Avancini, Paulo Jorge Goncalves, Pedro Mandarino, Pedro Sanchez, Pedro Sekiguchi, Petrillo, Raimundo Rodriguez, Raquel Gaio, Roberto Precioso, Roberto Tavares, Robson Martins, Rodrigo Sini, Ronald Duarte, Roosevelt Pinheiro, Rosana Ricalde, Sandra Passos, Sandra Seixas, Sema, Sergio Torres, Sheila Mancebo, Simone Magalhaes, Sonia Salcedo, Suely Farhi, Thiago Haule, Thiago Ortiz, Toss, Timbuca, Viviane Teixeira, Wladimyr Jung and Xico Chaves.