O ovo

O ovo consists of three cubes made from wooden boards, each covered with blue, red, or white plastic film. Participants enter the structure through the open bottom and push against the film, simulating the act of being born. This interactive element emphasizes the physicality of the experience. Pape herself described the sensation of being trapped and then breaking free through the membrane, making the work a profound commentary on birth and existence.

First exhibited at the Apocalipopótese group exhibition in 1969 in Rio de Janeiro, O ovo reflects Pape's exploration of body and space in art. Following the military coup in Brazil, she focused on film as a medium, continuing her innovative approach into the 1970s. The piece stands out in her body of work for its engagement with the viewer, inviting them to reflect on their own experiences of emergence and transformation.