Phantasmal Gallery
Phantasmal Gallery
Mila Bernardo
Dangerous Crossing
2024
Acrylic and Oil over Plaster Sculpture / Knife / Repurposed Wooden Cutting Board
27x32 cm
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Dangerous Crossing draws inspiration from the words of Grande Sertão: Veredas: "To live is very dangerous, because learning to live is the living itself." The realistically rendered hand, placed atop a repurposed wooden cutting board, symbolizes the fragility and resilience of the human experience. The knife between the fingers represents the inherent dangers of life’s journey. This piece invites reflection on the unpredictable nature of existence, emphasizing the courage needed to navigate its uncertainties.
Vanity Fair
2024
Acrylic and Oil over Vinyl Cover
40x40 cm
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In Vanity Fair, I explore the intersection of affluence and climate change. Painted on a repurposed vinyl record cover, the work depicts an opulent ballroom where figures in gas masks continue to dance as fire engulfs the room. This image critiques the apathy and detachment often enabled by privilege, highlighting the disconnection between wealth and the reality of global crises.
A Little Bit About The Artist
A Statement From The Artist
I am a Brazilian artist who creates from what’s been forgotten—discarded books, objects, and memories. Through painting, sculpture, and mixed media, I explore impermanence, memory, and the quiet absurdity of modern life. I let form guide function, allowing found materials to speak before I intervene. My work challenges capitalist ideals of value and ownership, inviting viewers to reconsider what we preserve and what we discard. Influenced by surrealism and philosophical inquiry, I aim to spark reflection and dialogue through pieces that live between past and present, permanence and decay.
What is your favourite movie or Tv Show?
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It's hard for me to choose just one favorite film or TV show, but Adieu au langage (Goodbye to Language) by Jean-Luc Godard stands out. I remember going to see it alone during college, and it left a lasting impression on me. It was a powerful exercise in deconstruction, and it continues to influence how I approach ambiguity and meaning in my work.
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