Mabe

Manabu Mabe arrived in Brazil in 1934 and began his journey into the world of painting during the mid-1940s. His artistic exploration led him to embrace abstractionism in the 1950s, and he made multiple appearances at the São Paulo Biennial starting from 1953. Notably, in 1959, he held a solo exhibition at the Museum of Modern Art in Rio de Janeiro. His exhibition career gained momentum from that point forward, with his work being showcased in various solo and group exhibitions in cities across Europe and North America. In 1960, he participated in the Venice Biennale.

In 1977, Pietro Maria Bardi shared his thoughts about the artist, stating, “Mabe is one of the great masters of painting, and it’s possible that he ventured into the realm of abstraction to eliminate obstacles in conveying the real and presenting the reality of the fantastical.” Notable exhibitions in São Paulo over recent years include one in 1995 at the Galeria de Arte André, commemorating the artist’s 50-year journey in painting, and another in 2001 at the Museu da Casa Brasileira, coinciding with the launch of his autobiographical book, “Chove no cafezal.”