2025 Brazilian Photography and Audiovisual Highlights Surveyed by Experts

The magazine ZUM surveyed nine curators, researchers, and artists to identify notable works in Brazilian photography and audiovisual media from 2025. The responses highlight a diverse range of artists and projects that blend photography with other mediums like video, sculpture, performance, and text, often addressing social, political, and environmental themes. Key figures mentioned include Lucas Cordeiro, whose work integrates Afro-Brazilian symbols without hierarchy between photography and sculpture; Giselle Beiguelman, who uses AI to critique historical sexism in science; and Gê Viana, whose installations and films explore Afro-diasporic and Indigenous resistance. Other notable mentions include Araquém Alcântara's career retrospective book on Brazilian biomes, the film 'Rock Doido' by Gaby Amarantos celebrating Belém's culture, and the exhibition 'Adiar o fim do mundo' curated by Ailton Krenak and Paulo Herkenhoff focusing on climate urgency. The survey also spotlighted initiatives from São Paulo's peripheries, such as the fanzine 'Beco' and Galeria Beco Visceral, which showcase local narratives. Indigenous representation was emphasized through artists like Edgar Xakriabá and Gustavo Caboco. The collective insights point to a broadening definition of contemporary photography in Brazil, with artists innovatively connecting visual media to issues of identity, colonialism, and ecological crisis.