Vini Nasos original new series on SuperRare

With two series of unique digital portraits sold-out on SuperRare, Vini Naso is launching his latest series that literally hits close to home.

“The Minipeople” project started spontaneously during my period of depression back in 2017. Now I know that depression in its core is basically a defense mechanism that activates when you do something that hurts you for a long period of time. It takes away your energy to stop you from doing it. I didn’t know about it then. All I knew is that my happiness was gone and I couldn’t find joy in anything anymore. 

The spectacle of the bate-bolas fascinated and terrified me as a kid, and certainly inspired my artistic view of the world.  In this series I wanted to channel all the raw energy: the sounds, colours and shapes from my childhood memories and re-imagine the costumes as artworks.  It is an ode to the almost unknown vibrant culture that explodes in the peripheries of Brazilian carnaval while the spotlight and cameras turn to the more bourgeois festivities. 

In my art practice, I often draw upon influences from mythology and folk-art giving it a modern/anachronistic twist.   From mask to shoes, every detail was designed with the intention to explore and share this rich culture.  In the process of diving deep into every detail, I unearthed the feeling of putting on a bate-bola mask for the first time: how the costume allowed me to express myself more freely.    I hope this series provokes thoughts about identity that people across all cultures can relate to.   What does it mean to be yourself and why does it matter? How many versions of you are there?

How does life change when you choose to be unapologetic yourself?

Give someone a mask and they can be themselves.

@DANIELLISMORE