From the Object to the World – Inhotim Collection
2 April–31 May 2015
Itaú Cultural
Av. Paulista, 149
São Paulo/SP
Hours: Tuesday–Friday 9am–8pm,
Saturday–Sunday and holidays 11am–8pm
T + 55 11 2168 1777
Itaú Cultural in São Paulo is hosting the exhibition Do Objeto para o Mundo – Coleção Inhotim (From the Object to the World – Inhotim Collection). This traveling show marks the first time that a part of Instituto Inhotim’s collection has left the institute’s facilities in Brumadinho (MG). Featuring over 50 artworks, most of which never shown before at Inhotim grounds, dating from the 1950s up to the present day, the exhibition is composed of a cross-section of the collection, and examines the field of contemporary art in the light of the collection and programs of the institution, which first opened to the general public in 2006. Co-produced by Itaú Cultural, the show will run until May 31, after having been presented at Palácio das Artes and other venues, in Belo Horizonte. The admission is free of charge.
The opening of the show features re-enactments of a series of historical performances by American artist Channa Horwitz conducted by Sesc Companhia de Dança and choreographed by the artist’s daughter, Ellen Davis. The public program continues the next day with a series of talks with artists Michael Smith and David Lamelas, which take place at Itaú Cultural facilities.
The exhibition focuses on a historical moment when art expanded beyond objects to become more open to the world. In this context, elements from daily life, from real space, from politics and the body are incorporated into art and the spectator becomes a participant. For Rodrigo Moura—Inhotim’s Director of Art and Cultural Programs—this is an opportunity for audiences to get to know the institute’s collection. “They are works that point out possible paths in the history of art over the last 50 years, which have allowed Inhotim to be what it is,” he explains.
In the first floor of Itaú Cultural, historical works are placed in dialogue with more recent ones. Organized in four segments, the exhibition path begins with the neo-concretism of Hélio Oiticica, Lygia Clark and Lygia Pape, passes through the conceptual geometry of Channa Horwitz, Cildo Meireles and David Lamelas as well as through action art and the presence of the body in art, exemplified by the work of Chris Burden, and ends with the avant-garde works of the Gutai group, which arose in Japan during years following the second World War. Works by Gabriel Sierra, Jac Leirner, Cinthia Marcelle and others offer a counterpoint to historical works and documents on display.
The galleries on the lower levels feature installations and moving image works by Anri Sala, Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, David Lamelas, Jorge Macchi, Marcius Galan, Marcellvs L., Melanie Smith, Michael Smith and Raquel Garbelotti, grouped into two sections that examine the relationships between illusion and perception and sound and image.
From the Body to the Earth
The exhibition’s title refers to the event Do Corpo à Terra (From the Body to the Earth), which took place during the inauguration of the Palácio das Artes, in Belo Horizonte in April 1970. Organized by critic Frederico Morais, today it is considered a milestone in the investigations concerning the environmental and experimentalist art of the avant-garde movement in Brazil. Two productions made on that occasion are part of the show: Ação no Parque Municipal (Action at the Municipal Park), 1970, by Décio Noviello, and Situação T/T 1 – Belo Horizonte (Situation T/T 1 – Belo Horizonte), 1970, by Artur Barrio.
Curated by Rodrigo Moura and Inês Grosso.
Press information – Instituto Inhotim
Malu Gonçalves
malu.goncalves [at] inhotim.org.br / T +55 31 3194 7322 / T + 55 31 9765 2470