Irrealis Mood is the title of this exhibition, bringing together a range of works and new productions by Brazilian artist Daniel Frota de Abreu. The show offers a deep dive into his ongoing research, themes, and ideas. On a broader level, the selection of works reflects the ideological questions Frota de Abreu addresses in his exploration of modern heritage, which he perceives as in decline. He speaks of time – our time – as a suspended moment, where skepticism feels like the prevailing belief. He looks back at pivotal events and references from the 20th century in science, architecture, literature, and art, weaving them together with verbal language as the thread connecting all the elements in the show.
The artist is drawn to the concept of ucronia, particularly in relation to the crisis in modern thought. A subgenre of science fiction, ucronia imagines altering past events to create a new, fictional present. The works in this show all share this re-creative spirit. Through sculptures and videos, Frota de Abreu reflects on the distinction between history and stories: What happens to our psychological frameworks when ideologies begin to erode? What occurs when we realize that the blueprints for our projects are nothing more than maps of their eventual ruin?
In linguistics, the term irrealis mood refers to a set of verbal moods used in situations of uncertainty, contingency, and unpredictability. This includes forms like the subjunctive, which lets speakers talk about things that are unknown, unconfirmed, or unverifiable – expressing intentions and wishes. It's for this reason that the artist has chosen irrealis mood as the title of his solo exhibition: a phrase that reflects both the flexibility and uncertainty of the worlds he creates.
Lorenzo Balbi
Curator – Fondazione Sandretto Re Rebaudengo
