JAIDER ESBELL

Gladstone presents the first solo exhibition of indigenous artist, activist, and curator Jaider Esbell (b. 1979, Normandia—d. 2021, São Sebastião, Brazil) in South Korea. The presentation features paintings on canvas and drawings, showcasing works spanning the artist’s later years and highlighting his distinctive visual language of vibrant contrasting patterns across saturated black backgrounds. Esbell’s deep connection with nature, rooted in ecological activism and Macuxi cosmology, permeates every aspect of his work—from the use of plant-based dyes to the depiction of myths and environmental elements such as birds, trees, and cacti. Underscored by the belief in the interconnectedness of all living and natural forms, and the presence of mythological beings and spirits within our complex ecosystem, Esbell’s artistic legacy mobilises narratives of resistances and champions indigenous epistemologies.