The Venice Biennale - Brazil Pavilion

The Brazilian Pavilion at the Venice Biennale represents a focal point for exploration and cultural dialogue, offering a platform for Brazilian artistic voices in an international context. Since its first participation in 1964, the pavilion has presented a wide range of works reflecting the complex social, political, and cultural dynamics of Brazil. Designed by architect Henrique Mindlin, the Brazilian Pavilion is a notable example of modernist architecture, with clean lines and a functional design that facilitates a seamless interaction between the artworks and the surrounding environment. The pavilion is located in the Biennale Gardens, one of the main exhibition spaces of the event, where it interacts with other iconic architectural structures from around the world.The 2023 edition, titled “Terra,” was curated by Gabriela de Matos and Paulo Tavares, who focused the exhibition on the concept of land as both a physical element and a cultural and spiritual symbol. The exhibition transformed the pavilion into an immersive space, covering the entire exhibition area with soil to create a direct connection between visitors and the indigenous and quilombola traditions of Brazil. This symbolic gesture served to emphasize the intrinsic connection between humans and nature, highlighting the importance of land as a source of life, memory, and future.A significant installation of this edition was “De-colonizing the Canon,” which sought to challenge dominant historical narratives regarding the founding of Brasilia, the capital of Brazil, built in an area previously inhabited by indigenous and quilombola populations. This part of the exhibition included a variety of media, such as audiovisual projections and ethno-historical maps, to present a more complex and inclusive view of Brazilian territorial and architectural history.The second gallery, titled “Places of Origin, Archaeologies of the Future,” featured the video “The Shaking of the House of the Tower” by Ayrson Heráclito, which explores the concept of heritage and memory through an archaeological lens. This section also included projects and socio-spatial practices reflecting indigenous and Afro-Brazilian knowledge of the territory, highlighting the importance of resilience and sustainability.The 2024 edition of the Brazilian Pavilion, titled “Hãhãwpuá,” continues on this line of cultural exploration, focusing on indigenous resistance and the reclaiming of ancestral territories. Curated by Arissana Pataxó, Denilson Baniwa, and Gustavo Caboco Wapichana, the exhibition includes works by artists such as Glicéria Tupinambá and the Tupinambá Community of Serra do Padeiro and Olivença, Bahia. These artists use their works to address themes of marginalization and rights violations, inviting visitors to reflect on resilience and collective memory.The 2024 exhibition “Ka’a Pûera: we are walking birds” alludes to cultivated lands that, after being harvested, become dormant before resurging, and to the small birds that camouflage themselves in the forest. This powerful metaphor represents the regenerative and resilient capacity of Brazilian indigenous populations, who continue to fight for the recognition and preservation of their lands and cultures.