Catalogue > At random

A spell breaking, QUEBRANTE traverses the caves, ruins and phantasmagorias of Transamazon BR230 Highway, portraying its stones and its ghosts. A conversation between the moon and the stones, QUEBRANTE is freely inspired in Robert's Smithson project THE TRULY UNDERGROUND CINEMA (1971) and in the film THE VERY EYE OF THE NIGHT (1958) by Maya Deren. Set in the tiny town of Rurópolis (Pará) - the very first one to be build in the Highway to serve as a base for the workers that were building it - QUEBRANTE follows Ms. Erismar, known in the region as "The Cave Woman". A retired elementary school teacher, Ms. Erismar was the one responsible for the discovery of the region's caves: she would enter the dark unknown holes till their ends, with only a candle in her hands and a lighter tied to her pants - in case the flame would fade out. A huge nationalistic propaganda part of the progress and development project of Brazil, Transamazônica Highway was implemented during the civic-military dictatorship that took place at the moment – and it is till nowadays a warm scar of the wreckage dream of the history of the country.

Janaina Wagner (1989) develops her research in film, drawing and installations. Her work aims to present a critical understanding of the ways in which humans impose systems of order and control upon their surroundings. Currently a Phd student at Le Fresnoy-Studio National des Arts Contemporains (FR), Janaina has participated in several residencies, such as Gasworks (UK); VISIO - European Program on Artists’ Moving Images (IT); FID Campus (FR), Bolsa Pampulha (BR). Her work is part of important collections, such as Instituto Inhotim (BR), Galeria Municipal do Porto (PT) and Coleção Moraes Barbosa (BR). Among the main exhibitions, stand out the individuals CINEMA CAVERNA (BR) and With burning love - Villa Belleville (FR); and the group 22a Bienal Videobrasil (BR), Ensaio de Tração - Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo (BR); Garganta - CIAJG - José de Guimarães International Arts Center (PT); Aliens are temporary - Kunstraum Kreuzberg/Bethanien (DE). Janaina has been participating in several film festivals, such as Berlinale (DE) and Tiradentes Film Festival (BR). Janaina Wagner is currently developing her first feature film, the experimental documentary A Mala da Noite. Janaina lives and works between Paris and São Paulo.