Brazilian artist André Hullk turns soil from indigenous lands into natural pigments for “Corpo Território,” opening April 17 at Alma da Rua Gallery. Free entry.
A territory you carry in your body
Alma da Rua Gallery, located in the iconic Beco do Batman alley in São Paulo’s Vila Madalena neighborhood, opens “Corpo Território” (Body Territory) on April 17 — a solo exhibition by visual artist André Hullk, curated by Marcelo Rosenbaum.
The show features dozens of new works exploring bodies in motion that carry their origins with them. Hullk, born in Manaus (Amazonas) and based in São Paulo since 2018, draws on Amazonian experience and indigenous roots to challenge what it means to belong somewhere.
The technique: soil as paint
One of the exhibition’s most striking innovations is André Hullk‘s use of natural earth pigments. He collected soil from across Brazil — including Guarani indigenous territories, the island of Marajó, and historic mining towns in Minas Gerais — and transformed each into a unique, unrepeatable color.
In many works, this earth-based pigment forms the background of the canvas. Human figures then emerge through acrylic paint applied with a palette knife, creating a tension between ancestral material and contemporary gesture. The textures are dense, almost tangible.
The Amazon as living presence
Under Marcelo Rosenbaum‘s curatorial vision, the works present the rainforest not as a distant backdrop, but as a living presence — one that resists, adapts, and keeps moving, just like the figures depicted on the canvases.
Between river, concrete and memory, the images challenge the idea of belonging, showing that roots are not fixed — on the contrary, they walk, they move. The works share a common narrative: that territory is not just a physical place, but something you carry, plant, and transform.
The standout work is “Território nas Costas” (Territory on One’s Back), measuring 120 x 80 cm in mixed media on canvas. An indigenous figure carries what cannot be left behind. Urban structures and territorial marks frame the painting, revealing both the weight and the permanence of origin amid displacement.
“The root, here, is not in the ground — it is in the body,” says André Hullk.
André Hullk: art as resistance
A visual artist, art educator, and graffiti artist with a background in Graphic Design, André Hullk has been working since 2009 across painting, graffiti, and illustration. His practice weaves Amazonian experience, indigenous heritage, and contemporary urban culture. In São Paulo, he also leads workshops connecting street art, education, and ancestral knowledge.
About Alma da Rua Gallery
Founded in 2009 by collector Tito Bertolucci as Alma do Mar, the gallery was renamed Alma da Rua in 2015. Focused on graffiti and urban writing, it is recognized as one of Brazil’s leading hubs for street art, fostering cultural reflection, production, and history.
Event Info
- Exhibition: Corpo Território — André Hullk
- Opening: April 17, 2026, at 2 PM
- Dates: April 17 – May 18, 2026
- Venue: Galeria Alma da Rua — Rua Medeiros de Albuquerque, 188, Vila Madalena, São Paulo (Beco do Batman)
- Hours: Daily, 10 AM – 6 PM
- Admission: Free
- Curator: Marcelo Rosenbaum
Gostou do nosso conteúdo?
Seu apoio faz toda a diferença para continuarmos produzindo material de qualidade! Se você apreciou o post, deixe seu comentário, compartilhe com seus amigos. Sua ajuda é fundamental para que possamos seguir em frente! 😊
