14th Bienal Naïfs do Brasil Confronts Social Issues Through Folk Art at Sesc Piracicaba

The 14th Bienal Naïfs do Brasil, curated by Ricardo Resende, Juliana O. Campaneli, and Armando Queiroz, with educational curation by Alexandre Araujo Bispo, concluded on November 25 at Sesc Piracicaba. Titled "Daquilo que escapa," the exhibition challenged primitivist labels by showcasing works addressing urgent social and political themes. Arlindo de Oliveira presented pieces referencing the BOPE occupation of Rio's favelas and police violence. Alex dos Santos from Jaboticabal contributed "A violência contra a mulher" (2018), tracing brutality against women from the Inquisition to the Maria da Penha Law. Ana Zamaro's "Absolutas" depicted diverse female faces, while Gildo Xavier's "Retratos de Família" (2017) and "Conquista" (2017) portrayed varied family structures, including LGBTQ+ and indigenous families. The biennial demonstrated how Naïf artists engage with contemporary identity politics and social critique, moving beyond simplistic folk art categorizations.