Fleeting Desires
Leah de Oliveira’s online viewing room invites viewers to reflect on the emotional highs and lows that define our daily lives. Featuring a curated selection of thought-provoking works, the exhibition delves into the raw and often contradictory nature of human emotion. From fleeting moments of indulgence to the deeper undercurrents of insecurity and longing, each piece offers a window into the internal landscapes we navigate—some sensations that vanish as quickly as they appear, and others that stay with us, shaping how we see ourselves and the world around us. Through this digital format, the experience remains intimate and contemplative, encouraging viewers to pause, feel, and connect.
Na hora do almoço (The Hunger of Excess) reflects on Brazil’s rural North-West, portraying a heavyset man about to indulge in rich, oily dishes while a woman in the background cleans a severed chicken head—symbolizing the often overlooked labor of rural women. Femme au furet (The Weight of Possession) humorously critiques the pressures placed on women to maintain appearances and the absurdity of consumerism, even into old age. Untitled (The Digital Gaze) presents a dystopian scene of individuals crammed into a coffin-like elevator, each isolated in their own world, highlighting the disconnection brought on by technology.
The Overstimulated Pulse delves into the dynamics of power, control, and hypersexualized consumer culture. An intimate look at the impact of hypersexualization and sensory overload, the piece critiques the intersection of dominance, consumption, and the disconnection that arises from reducing intimacy to a transaction. Through its visceral imagery, it challenges the viewer to reflect on the emotional and societal consequences of a culture consumed by desire and exploitation.
The Longing for Freedom, a fleeting moment of release—an attempt to break free from the relentless cycle of consumption and rediscover a sense of inner peace. This work captures the quiet yearning that exists beneath the surface of modern life: the desire to shed external pressures, societal expectations, and material distractions in pursuit of something more authentic. It speaks to the human impulse to pause, breathe, and reconnect with a deeper, more grounded self. In this space of stillness, the artwork suggests that freedom is not a grand escape, but a subtle act of reclaiming one’s emotional and spiritual autonomy.
