Artist lead

• Brazilian artist born in 1937 in Rio de Janeiro

• Came from a wealthy family → his grandfather being a reputed philologist

• Early works were interactive

• Became the father of a movement called Tropicalismo

• After living in New York he returned to Brazil because of immigration issues

• He died of a stroke in 1980 at 43 years old

Tropicalia is an installation piece that was first exhibited in Rio de Janeiro in 1967. The piece showcases a stereotype of Oiticica’s home country, which is thought to be tropical paradise.

• Bright colors

• Flowers

• Sand

• Stones

• Tropical birds

Questions:

How can this installation be related to the term “service” from the reading by Andrea Fraser?

Is art considered a service?

Is art considered a product?

Can art be neither a service nor a product? If so, what is art?