Rivane Neuenschwander: Children’s Commission 2015, The Name of Fear, Whitechapel

Brazilian artist Rivane Neuenschwander delves into the eery world of childhood fears at the Whitechapel Gallery's annual Children's Commission where monsters under the bed really do come to life.
Whitechapel Gallery exhibition
A group of children aged 7 to 9 confessed their deepest terrors (from spiders and heights to strangers) to Neunschwander which the radical artist then made into a series of raucous handmade capes. Like any ordinary superhero cape, these spectacular designs give protection and supernatural powers to the wearer. 
For this innovative new work Neuenschwander embraced her Brazilian heritage, inspired by the song Araçá Azul by Caetano Veloso and poem O Medo by Carlos Drummond de Andrade. Neuenschwander also makes reference to the Brazilian tradition of inscribing wishes on bind ribbons to make them come true. At the Whitechapel Gallery you'll find your most intense wishes transform into the darkest fear. There is also a rich blend of folk traditions and children's literature at play in this quirky new project which shows Neuenschwander at her most playful.