The Paths of Hélio Oiticica: Exoticism, Brazilian Identity, and Popular Culture

This article aims to highlight how Oiticica engaged with significant issues surrounding the political and aesthetic challenges of underdevelopment, popular culture, and the formation of a Brazilian artistic system. To this end, we will revisit some of his works, specifically: (i) Metaesquemas (1956–1958); (ii) Relevos espaciais (1959–1960); (iii) Núcleos (1960–1966); (iv) Penetráveis (1961–1980); (v) Bólides (1963–1979); (vi) Parangolés (1964–1979); and (vii) Tropicália (1967). We suggest that Oiticica played a crucial role in constructing a Brazilian image of art in the world, although this process was not without contradictions.