Tunga (artist)
Antonio José de Barros Carvalho e Mello Mourão, known professionally as Tunga, was a Brazilian sculptor and performance artist. The Art Newspaper called him "One of Brazil's best-known contemporary artists." In 2005, Tunga became the first contemporary artist to exhibit his work at the Louvre in the museum's history during an installation called "A la Lumiere des Deux Mondes".
Permanent exhibitions of museums such as the Guggenheim in Venice, and whole wings exclusively dedicated to his work at the Brazilian Inhotim Institute. Some private collections also display his works, such as the V+R Sapoznik Art Collection.
Tunga was born in Palmares, Pernambuco, Brazil, in 1952. He died in Rio de Janeiro on June 6, 2016, at the age of 64 after battling cancer for several years.
