Myth of an urban narcissus: reflections on Hudinilson Jr. (1957–2013) and graphic memory in Brazil

Abstract

This article proposes a reflection on the works of artist Hudinilson Jr. (1957–2013) related to printed technical images. Our objective is to examine some of his works that engage with displacement, recording methods and image reproduction practices, highlighting the creative and conceptual process linked to the conception, idealization and production of generating matrices. Hudinilson Jr. built an extensive career with interests spanning the fields of research, archiving, and teaching. Guided by the concept of artmedia, by desire, and by the public and authorial nature provided by São Paulo art circuit, his research themes frequently highlighted the forms and visualities of the nude male body. In this context, the present study approaches, from a perspective grounded in the history and critique of art and design, works and processes related to woodcut, mail art and xerography, produced between the 1970s and 1980s. We analyze the technical and conceptual aspects of these procedures, emphasizing how they contribute to understanding and describing the artist’s trajectory. Finally, this research reaffirms the importance of unveiling new narratives about Brazilian artists and the potential of their approaches, highlighting their contributions to shaping design, contemporary art, and the country’s graphic memory.