ALINE BISPO
24TH ANNUAL LATIN GRAMMY AWARDS® OFFICIAL ARTIST
By C.J.
Aline Bispo knew exactly what she wanted to capture on canvas when she picked up her graphite and began creating the artwork for the 24th Annual Latin GRAMMY Awards. "I believe that music is an art, and all arts are portals to transmit sensations," says the Brazilian, who was overjoyed when she learned in June that she had been named this year's Official Artist. "I wanted to transmit joy, specific moments, and all the warm feelings that we have in Brazil."
To shape this ethnic mosaic, Bispo combined central themes of her culture through female figures, elements of nature and symbols that represent and refer to the largest country in South America. "All the figures have a relationship that is connected to the history of the Brazilian and Afro-Brazilian people," explains the artist, who created the colorful work in two weeks. Once it was finished using the graphite technique, the piece was digitized. "All the references are Latin American. The main woman sits on a chair that is an institution in Brazil. All Brazilian religions use it."
The glorification of femininity, the African diaspora and a mix of cultures characterize Bispo's work. She was born in the Campo Limpo district, on the outskirts of the Zona Sur in the city of São Paulo. Her construction worker father and dressmaker mother instilled in the budding visual artist that education is the way to a better life.
In fact, she was the first woman from her mother’s side of the family to attend and graduate college. "There's still a need for women in the arts in general. Because I'm Black, I'm never going to be treated as white," says Bispo, who curates the Ibirapitanga Institute's collection, and whose work is exhibited in the collections of institutions such as Museu de Arte de São Paulo, IMS Paulista, Sesc Belenzinho, Adelina Cultural and Galeria Luis Maluf, but also in the streets, as she did with her 2021 graffiti Salve, Lélia!, a tribute to the Black feminist activist Lélia González. "There is limited access to places for many people, and I want my work to open doors, to open paths.”
Paths where music, illustration, painting and graffiti blend. "This art for the Latin GRAMMYs was conceived and produced with a lot of love," says the cover designer of the best-selling novel Torto Arado, who also loves the work of singers such as Anitta, Rosalía, Jorge Ben Jor and María Rita. "Just as music conveys many feelings, I would like for people to feel that from the elements in my work,” she concludes. "It's a work that stimulates people, in the same way that music does."
Bispo’s official art may be viewed on the cover of this Program Book. See the www.latingrammy.com/en/awards
