São Paulo is pleased to present GULA, Berna Reale’s first solo exhibition in São Paulo, which deepens the artist’s research into violence. 

Her performances, which render videos, photographs and installations have allured national and international interest, exemplified by the invitation for the artist to represent Brazil in the 2015 Venice Biennale. This all happened very quickly. It's because Berna entered the art scene with mature works, focusing on one of Brazil’s most sensitive and overpowering social issues violence. Mostly set in Belém do Pará, where like in any other large Brazilian city, newspaper crime sections have become increasingly detailed and television news shows are plagued by barbarities; hunger, murder and insurrections are part of daily life; and people share images of violence on social media, the artist is witness to an exponential increase in the naturalisation of violence in people’s lives.

Self-starred, her performances openly touch on these issues and others in a way that renews the viewer’s indignation, fear and sadness. In GULA, the artist maintains the same line of questioning; however, in a less literal, less explicit manner than previous instances — requiring the viewer to decipher subtle signs.