Lina Bo Bardi's Popular Craft: Artistry and Accessibility in Design
Lina Bo Bardi redefined the perception of handcraft as a luxury by championing Brazilian popular culture through her work in architecture, design, and exhibitions. In her article, Susanna Moreira delves into Bo Bardi's concept of 'preartesanía' and highlights her significant curatorial contributions to exhibitions such as 'Bahia no Ibirapuera' (1959), 'Nordeste' (1963), 'A Mão do Povo Brasileiro' (1969), 'Design no Brasil - História e Realidade' (1982), and 'Caipiras, Capiaus, Pau a Pique' (1984). Her experiences in Bahia, particularly at the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (MAM-BA) alongside Martim Gonçalves, shaped her engaging exhibitions. Additionally, she established the Museu de Arte Popular (MAP) and the Centro de Estudos e Trabalho Artesanal (CETA). Bo Bardi's writings, notably 'Tempos de Grossura', call for a reassessment of Brazil's 'popular' culture.
Key facts
- Lina Bo Bardi criticized 'desculturación' and called for a balance of Brazil's 'popular' civilization.
- She coined the term 'preartesanía' to describe Brazilian craft, which she distinguished from formal artisanal guilds.
- Bo Bardi directed the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (MAM-BA) from 1960.
- The exhibition 'Bahia no Ibirapuera' (1959) was co-curated with Martim Gonçalves and contrasted institutionalized 'Arte' with utilitarian 'arte'.
- 'Nordeste' (1963) opened the Museu de Arte Popular (MAP) and used pine boards to evoke popular fairs.
- 'A Mão do Povo Brasileiro' (1969) marked the opening of MASP's second headquarters on Avenida Paulista.
- 'Design no Brasil - História e Realidade' (1982) was held at Sesc Fábrica da Pompéia and divided objects into 'Brasil manual' and 'Brasil industrial'.
- 'Caipiras, Capiaus, Pau a Pique' (1984) featured pau a pique constructions built by Capitão and Dona Zita from Minas Gerais.
- Bo Bardi's book 'Tempos de Grossura' was published posthumously in 1994.
- Her exhibitions used raw materials and immersive environments to present popular culture critically.
Entities
Artists
- Lina Bo Bardi
- Martim Gonçalves
- Glauber Rocha
- Pierre Verger
- André Vainer
- Marcelo Ferraz
- Capitão
- Dona Zita
- Susanna Moreira
Institutions
- Instituto Lina Bo e P. M. Bardi
- Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia (MAM-BA)
- Museu de Arte Popular (MAP)
- Centro de Estudos e Trabalho Artesanal (CETA)
- Museu de Arte de São Paulo (MASP)
- Sesc Fábrica da Pompéia
- Escola de Bellas Artes
- ArchDaily
Locations
- Brazil
- Salvador
- Bahia
- São Paulo
- Avenida Paulista
- Nordeste
- Vale do Ribeira
- Minas Gerais
- Ibirapuera