João Maria Gusmão + Pedro Paiva Biography

João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva live and work in Lisbon. Working in collaboration since 2001, their research driven practice is a poetic investigation of the metaphysical, encompassing moving image, installation, sculpture, and photography. Creating objects and scenarios that are equally cinematic, comedic, and enigmatic, together their works defy the rational, challenging our understanding of the known world. Past solo exhibitions of their work include João Maria Gusmão and Pedro Paiva: Peacock, Haus der Kunst, Munich (2017), The Sleeping Eskimo, Aargauer Kunsthaus, Aarau, Switzerland (2016), The Missing Hippopotamus, Kkv Kolnischer Kunstverein, Cologne (2015), Papagaio, HangarBicocca, Milan (2014); travelled to Camden Arts Centre, London (2015), and KW Institute for Contemporary Art, Berlin (2015), One month without filming, REDCAT, Los Angeles (2015), Since you have eaten the horse, you can travel to Rome by donkey: on dwarf philosophy, Kunsternernes Hus, Oslo (2012) and Passengers 1.7, CCA Wattis Institute for Contemporary Arts, San Francisco (2008). In 2009, Gusmão and Paiva represented Portugal at the 53^rd Venice Biennale. Additionally, their work was included in The Encyclopedic Palace, curated by Massimiliano Gioni, the International Art Exhibition at the 55^th Venice Biennale, 2013, the 8^th Gwangju Biennale (2010), Manifesta 7 (2008), the 6^th Mercosul Biennial, Porto Alegre (2007), and the 27^th Bienal de Sao Paulo (2006).