Curriculum Vitae

My name is Alexsandro Almeida Da Silva, also known as Sandro Masai, my artist name. I am an Afro-Brazilian multimedia artist, mostly known as a performance artist. I hold a bachelor degree of Art and Technology from Aalborg University and a master degree of Interaction Design from Design School Kolding, both in Denmark, where I live since 2007. I also have a background in theatre, modern dance and Japanese butoh dance. Being an Afro-Brazilian plays a strong role in my artistic practice, as I often work within the themes of decolonisation, afro-futurism, ancestry, collective trauma, spirituality and empathy.

My artworks normally take shape as participatory performances, interactive art installations and action paintings. I have collaborated with international artists in several countries, such as Brazil, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, England and Germany. This includes acting in movies, theatre plays, modern dance, performance art and installations. Currently, I have my atelier at Nordjyllands Kunstnerværksted in Aalborg. I am a guest lecturer at Aalborg University and the University of Bergen, where I teach ‘Artistic and Academic Methodologies’. I also co-produce Projekt Vækstlag 9000 since 2018.

Education:

Master of Arts in Design within Communication Design (2013–2015) Design School Kolding – Denmark

The foundation of the programme of Communication Design in the Design School Kolding is to teach how to improve communication by strategy, to bring awareness or change behaviour, or how to deliver a holistic service or experience by interaction.

Bachelor degree of ‘Art and Technology’ (2009-2012) Aalborg University – Denmark

‘Art and Technology’ is an interdisciplinary study, where the students learn to work project-based in groups, using different types of technologies, applying theory and reflecting upon the results in an academic framework. ‘Art and Technology’ challenges the students to express their creativity artistically. The students learn computer-programming skills, like Arduino, MaxMSP, vvvv and Processing, which they use to create interactive and experimental artistic designs. The students also learn to work with modern materials, light, sound, video and combine these technologies with new media.

Cinema Studies (semester abroad as part of the Bachelor degree) (2011)

University of Westminster, London – United Kingdom

I attended theoretical and practice-based courses related to cinema. My semester project was an immersive four-wall video installation and an essay on art cinema.

Drama

Theatre School Martins Pena (2000-2002) Taboão da Serra, São Paulo – Brazil

Experience (selected works)

2020 – February – Teaching workshop in ‘multimodal interactions in performance’ at the University of Bergen (Bergen, NO)

2020 – February – Teaching workshop in ‘modern dance and physical theatre’ at Vrå Højskole (Vrå, DK)

2020 – January and February – Teaching ‘modern dance and physical theatre’ at HF Music & Theatre (Aalborg, DK)

2019 – since 2016 – Teaching ‘Artistic and Academic Methodologies’ at Aalborg University (Aalborg, DK)

2019 – “Kul-tur/retur” performance, collaboration with ‘Jens og Morten’ at Den Frie Centre of Contemporary Art Copenhagen (Copenhagen, DK)

2019 – “Modern Dance and Architecture” workshop and performance at Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg (Aalborg, DK)

2018 – Teaching workshop “Moving Bodies and Interactivity” guest lecturer at University of Bergen (Bergen, NO)

2018 – Paper: “Interactive Art, Performance and Scientific Research into Corporeal Empathy” on Journal of Problem Based Learning in Higher Education, Aalborg University. VOL. 6, NO. 1, 2018 – Page 39-54.

2017 – Residency and conference presentation “RUINS – Researching Interactive Strategies” collaboration with Joanna Magierecka at RAPP2017 (Research in Artistic Practice Programme) (Aarhus, DK)

2017 – “HA DÔ” butoh dance choreography by Tadashi Endo at Junges Theater (Dancer) (Göttingen, DE)

2017 – “Embodying the Concept of Liquid Modernity” performance, collaboration with Nina Saunders at Kunsten Museum of Modern Art Aalborg. Durational performance of 28 hours in 4 days (Aalborg, DK)

2016 – Conference Presentation “My Body, Your Room – Researching Empathy Through Performance” at the Embodied Methodologies Conference – Royal Holloway, University of London (UK)

2016 – “Temple for Oxóssi” interactive art installation and performance, collaboration with Lilibeth Cuenca Rasmussen and Morten Poulsen at Landshape Land Art Festival (Rune, DK)

2015 – Master thesis: “Researching Empathy Through Staged Performance” (experimental design research), research object: “My Body, Your Room” interactive art installation and dance performance at Design School Kolding (DK).

2015 – current: Teacher of Performing Arts and Modern Dance at Den Rytmiske i Nordkraft (Aalborg, DK)

2014 – “My Body, Your Room” interactive art installation and dance performance at BunkerLove Festival (Art & Technology) (Løkken, DK)

2013 – “BunkerLove AR” augmented reality as a communication platform for the international art festival BunkerLove (Art & Technology) (DK)

2012 – Video and light installation for Aalborg Symfoniorkester, collaboration with Platform4 art collective (Designer and Projection Operator) (Aalborg, DK)

2012 – “Time/Life” interactive art installation, collaboration with Edit Vizer at Teater Nordkraft  (Designer and Multimedia Artist) (Aalborg, DK)

2011 – “I Overmorgen Bliver Jeg En Anden” theatre play at Teater Nordkraft (Co-creator and performer) (Aalborg, DK)

2010 – “Costa Del Sol” short movie directed by Benjamin Schindler and Jan Wilde at Academy of Media Arts Cologne (Dancer and Actor) (Cologne, DE)

2010 – “Hvidt Kød, Sort Kød og Citron”  performance art, collaboration with Christian Skjødt and Morten Burian at ARoS Museum of Modern Art Århus (Århus, DK)

2010 – “A Short Course In Realism…” performance art, collaboration with Frans Jacobi at Malmö Art Academy (performer) (Malmö, SE)

2010 – “SEX” dance performance at Transformator / Aalborg Teater (Choreographer and Dancer) (Aalborg, DK)

2009 – “Poems” dance performance at Platform4 (Choreographer and Dancer) (Aalborg, DK)

2008 – “Eu Sou Brasileiro” dance performance, collaboration with Morten Burian at Transformator / Aalborg Teater (Choreographer and Dancer) (Aalborg, DK)

2008 – “Rekyl” multimedia art, collaboration with Christian Skjødt, Mikkel Ring and Kristian Ravn-Ellestad at Platform4 (Dancer) (Aalborg, DK)

2006 – “Identidade” dance performance choreographed by Luiz Fernando Bongiovanni at Centro Cultural São Paulo (Dancer) (São Paulo, BR)

2005 – “Galvez, Imperador do Acre” theatre play directed by Marcio Aurélio at SESC da Esquina Curitiba and Centro Cultural São Paulo (Actor) (São Paulo, BR)

Skills & Expertise

Communication Design, Interaction Design, Concept Development, Contemporary Art, Performing Arts, Performance Design, Installation Design, Acting, Modern Dance, Butoh Dance, Teaching, Film, New Media, Theatre, Adobe Photoshop, Adobe Premiere Pro, Microsoft Office.

Other Work Experiences

2008-2011: Modern Dance Teacher at Den Rytmiske i Nordkraft (Aalborg, DK)

2008-2009: Portuguese Teacher at FOF (Aalborg, DK)

2003-2006: English Teacher (São Paulo, BR)

2005-2006: Theatre Teacher for children (Osasco, BR)

Languages:

Portuguese (Native language, Brazilian Portuguese)

English (Full professional proficiency)

Danish (Professional working proficiency)

Spanish (Elementary proficiency)

Attended Workshops and Courses (Dance and Theatre)

2006 Modern Dance – Thomas Zamolo – Centro Cultural São Paulo (BR)

2006 Contemporary Ballet Dance at Centro Cultural São Paulo (BR)

2006 Modern Dance: Philippe Saire at SESC-Pinheiros (São Paulo, BR)

2005-2006 Modern Dance: William Forsythe technique with Luiz Fernando Bongiovanni (São Paulo, BR)

2005-2006 African Dance – Grupo Okum (São Paulo, BR)

2003-2005 Choir Singing – Comunidade Coral Luther King (São Paulo, BR)

2002-2002 Dramaturgy and Direction with Antonio Ginco (Osasco, BR)

2000-2002 Theatre School Martins Pena (Taboão Da Serra, BR)

2004 Storytelling – Giuliano Tierno (Taboão da Serra, BR)

2003 Dario Fo Theatre with Neide Veneziano (Santos, BR)

Prizes
Transformator-prize 2009 (for creating a modern dance troupe in Aalborg, Denmark)