Cildo Meireles

Cildo Meireles, born in Rio de Janeiro in 1948, is a pioneering Brazilian conceptual and installation artist known for his politically charged works that critique authoritarianism and social injustices. He emerged as a leading figure in Brazilian art in the late 1960s, heavily influenced by the Neo-Concrete movement, especially artists like Hélio Oiticica and Lygia Clark. 

His large-scale installations, such as Red Shift (1967–84) and Insertions Into Ideological Circuits (1970–76), invite active viewer engagement and often explore themes of oppression, colonial history, and the commodification of everyday life. Over his career, Meireles has received numerous prestigious awards, including the Prince Claus Award in 1999 and the Velázquez Prize for Plastic Arts in 2008.