Os Gemeos are an art team from Sao Paulo, Brazil who happen to be identical twins. Their lively second solo show at Deitch Projects offers a warm and enchanting large-scale installation, with tons to discover in the mix.  Made of found objects and Brazilian consumer products, there are gigantic interactive wooden sculptures and plenty of graffiti-inspired painting. These high-spirited artworks find a perfect home among childlike pastels-covered walls and sculptural objects emitting soundtracks.

Os Gemeos show love for their home and people—the theme of home is abound, theatrically depicted on a 40’ by 20’ wall of favelas (Brazilian shanty towns) with smiling brown, peach and yellow faces appearing out of windows and doors. In their anthropomorphized dream-world, every object has a face and breaths with life. Surprisingly, little danger is shown flourishing in this loving, though impoverished, setting; family, fantasy, and amusement take precedent.

Highlights include a piano in which every key plays a musical sample and a giant pyramid made with oil can packaging and a wooden head spouting bubbles. The pyramid beckons you inside to dance in its mirrored interior.  Costumed citizens floating in the sky on the back wall’s mural are reminiscent of Carnival, while at the same time, families are shown with toppled homes. Loss and celebration concur in Os Gemeos’ daydream—which one can conjecture is in essence the Brazilian way of life. 

Images: Installation views, Os Musicos, 2008. Courtesy Deitch Projects.