Unflagging/Déflagration is a series of more than 200 unique works produced through the appropriation and reworking of national symbols, one of the artist’s ongoing visual explorations since 2021. Alvaro proposes the deconstruction of national symbols and the creation of new visual narratives by using the graphic elements of altered flags. For the artist, exhibiting this collection outside Brazil sharpens his foreign gaze toward his own culture, while inviting others to reflect on their own relationship with national symbols. The deconstruction and reconstruction of the Brazilian flag invite viewers to reflect on their own origins and their individual connection to the collective.
In Alvaro’s artistic practice, the recovery and reuse of national symbols serve as research tools to explore the decolonization of the imagination. His printmaking work creates a space for dialogue with the public through images that challenge the rigidity of printmaking techniques, as Alvaro values intentional mistakes as deliberate acts of visual disobedience.
All the works in the exhibition were originally created on paper, each measuring 18 x 24 in., through a hybridization of screen printing, stamping, and stencil spray painting techniques. In this exhibition, visitors will be able to contemplate a selection of the Unflagging/Déflagration collection, especially pieces created between 2022 and 2025.
