Mission/Missions (How to Build Cathedrals) 1987

Curator: This is "Mission/Missions (How to Build Cathedrals)," an installation conceived in 1987 by the Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles. Editor: Immediately, I am struck by this image’s dark beauty, its gravity. The heavy atmosphere created by these glittering surfaces suspended within darkness. Curator: Yes, the installation is powerfully evocative. Meireles created it using thousands of children's skullcaps, Communion wafers, and Brazilian currency. Each element a potent signifier embedded with history and socio-political weight. Editor: Skullcaps, wafers, money… these symbols carry intense cultural and religious connotations. The arrangement itself has such intentionality, that pole cascading downward, unifying the elements beneath a dark shroud above. What cultural memory is Meireles calling upon here? Curator: Consider the historical context of 1980s Brazil. Meireles’s work serves as a pointed critique of the powerful, often oppressive, institutions – the Church, the State, Capital – and how they interact and shape societal experience, particularly in Latin America. Editor: I see this as an exploration of systems, and power structures, that are also, necessarily, built on human belief. Visually, the repeated, identical pieces remind me of ancient building practices using identical stones, and also the mass production under Capitalism. Curator: Exactly, Meireles critiques that power. He's revealing these symbolic constructions – like Cathedrals - built on faith and sacrifice, whether spiritual or material. Each element echoes these ideas of devotion and, perhaps, exploitation. Editor: Thinking of devotion, this feels very much like an altar. What sacrifices are being asked of us in this temple to… Capitalism? Curator: The title itself challenges us: "How to Build Cathedrals." Meireles prompts us to reflect on the human cost, and ethical considerations embedded within systems of belief and economic structures. The 'missions' here might refer to both religious evangelization and political objectives, suggesting the blurred lines between faith, power, and colonialism. Editor: Ultimately, the darkness makes it unforgettable, this work about systems. These materials—the glint of metal and wafers that dissolve in the mouth – trigger deeply embedded sensations. Thank you for bringing insight into Meireles’ process and intent, illuminating a path into these resonant symbols. Curator: My pleasure, thinking about Meireles pushes me to consider art’s positionality in wider sociopolitical landscapes and in sparking critical dialogue. I trust it encourages us all to see it this way, too.