35th Bienal de São Paulo confronts colonial legacies with visceral anger and Indigenous perspectives
The 35th Bienal de São Paulo, named 'Choreographies of the Impossible,' is overseen by a predominantly Black curatorial team consisting of Manuel Borja-Villel, Grada Kilomba, Diane Lima, and Hélio Menezes. This event showcases 121 artists from Africa, Asia, and South America, addressing the theme of colonial violence through various works, including Ibrahim Mahama's installation of decaying railway tracks. Indigenous viewpoints are presented in the film Thuë pihi kuuwi (2023) by Yanomami filmmakers. Kidlat Tahimik’s installation, Killing us Softly… (2023), critiques neocolonial violence. The exhibition, located at the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion, will be open until December 10 and features over 1,000 items, including Rolando Castellón's mud drawings and a catalog essay by Diane Lima on Black women's ontology.
Key facts
- The 35th Bienal de São Paulo runs through December 10 at Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion in São Paulo
- Curated by Manuel Borja-Villel, Grada Kilomba, Diane Lima, and Hélio Menezes, it is the first Black-majority curatorial team in the biennial's 72-year history
- Features 121 artists, with a majority from Africa, Asia, and South America
- Includes over 1,000 objects across the Oscar Niemeyer-designed pavilion
- Ibrahim Mahama's opening installation uses rusting railway tracks to critique colonial infrastructure
- Indigenous film Thuë pihi kuuwi (2023) by Yanomami filmmakers addresses genocide from deforestation and mining
- Kidlat Tahimik's installation Killing us Softly… with their SPAMS… (2023) collaborates with traditional Filipino wood carvers
- Dance works include François Pain and Min Tanaka's 1986 collaboration and Maya Deren's 1948 Meditation on Violence
Entities
Artists
- Ibrahim Mahama
- Aida Harika
- Edmar Tokorino
- Roseane Yariana
- Kidlat Tahimik
- Igshaan Adams
- Daniel Lie
- Rolando Castellón
- Denilson Baniwa
- Tadáskía
- François Pain
- Min Tanaka
- Félix Guattari
- Joseph Canteloube
- Maya Deren
- Chao-Li Chi
- Bouchra Ouizguen
- Judith Scott
- Sidney Amaral
- Manuel Borja-Villel
- Grada Kilomba
- Diane Lima
- Hélio Menezes
- Oscar Niemeyer
- Ahlam Shibli
- Aida Harika Yanomami
- Edmar Tokorino Yanomami
- Roseane Yariana Yanomami
- Aline Motta
- Amadorand Jr. Segurança Patrimonial Ltda.
- Amos Gitai
- Ana Pi
- Taata Kwa Nkisi Mutá Imê
- Anna Boghiguian
- Anne-Marie Schneider
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans (AMT)
- Arthur Bispo do Rosário
- Aurora Cursino
- Ayrson Heráclito
- Tiganá Santana
- Benvenuto Chavajay
- Cabello/Carceller
- Carlos Bunga
- Carmézia Emiliano
- Castiel Vitorino Brasileiro
- Ceija Stojka
- Charles White
- Citra Sasmita
- Colectivo Ayllu
- Cozinha Ocupação 9 de Julho
- Daniel Lind-Ramos
- Davi Pontes
- Wallace Ferreira
- Dayanita Singh
- Deborah Anzinger
- Denise Ferreira da Silva
- Diego Araúja
- Laís Machado
- Duane Linklater
- Edgar Calel
- Elda Cerrato
- Elena Asins
- Elizabeth Catlett
- Ellen Gallagher
- Edgar Cleijne
- Emanoel Araújo
- Eustáquio Neves
- flo6x8
- Francisco Toledo
- Frente 3 de Fevereiro
- Gabriel Gentil Tukano
- George Herriman
- Geraldine Javier
- Grupo de Investigación en Arte y Política (GIAP)
- Gloria Anzaldúa
- Guadalupe Maravilla
- Ilze Wolff
- Inaicyra Falcão
- Januário Jano
- Jesús Ruiz Durand
- John Woodrow Wilson
- Jorge Ribalta
- José Guadalupe Posada
- Juan van der Hamen y León
- Julien Creuzet
- Kamal Aljafari
- Kapwani Kiwanga
- Katherine Dunham
- Leilah Weinraub
- Leopoldo Méndez
- Luana Vitra
- Luiz de Abreu
- MAHKU
- Malinche
- Manuel Chavajay
- Margaret Taylor Goss Burroughs
- Marilyn Boror Bor
- Marlon Riggs
- M’barek Bouhchichi
- Melchor María Mercado
- Morzaniel Ɨramari
- Mounira Al-Solh
- Nadal Walcott
- Nadir Bouhmouch
- Soumeya Ait Ahmed
- Nikau Hindin
- Niño de Elche
- Nontsikelelo Mutiti
- Patricia Gómez
- María Jesús González
- Pauline Boudry
- Renate Lorenz
- Philip Rizk
- Quilombo Cafundó
- Raquel Lima
- Ricardo Aleixo
- Rommulo Vieira Conceição
- Rosa Gauditano
- Rosana Paulino
- Rubem Valentim
- Rubiane Maia
- Sammy Baloji
- Santu Mofokeng
- Sarah Maldoror
- Sauna Lésbica por Malu Avelar
- Ana Paula Mathias
- Anna Turra
- Bárbara Esmenia
- Marta Supernova
- Senga Nengudi
- Simone Leigh
- Sônia Gomes
- stanley brou
- Stella do Patrocínio
- Taller 4 Rojo
- Taller NN
- Tejal Shah
- The Living and the Dead Ensemble
- Torkwase Dyson
- Trinh T. Minh-Ha
- Ubirajara Ferreira Braga
- Ventura Profana
- Wifredo Lam
- Will Rawls
- Xica Manicongo
- Yto Barrada
- Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico
- Stanley Brouwn
- Trinh T. Minh-ha
Institutions
- 35th Bienal de São Paulo
- Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion
- La Borde
- São Paulo Bienal
- Archivo de la Memoria Trans (AMT)
- Colectivo Ayllu
- Cozinha Ocupação 9 de Julho
- Frente 3 de Fevereiro
- Grupo de Investigación en Arte y Política (GIAP)
- MAHKU
- Quilombo Cafundó
- Taller 4 Rojo
- Taller NN
- The Living and the Dead Ensemble
- Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico
- Bienal de São Paulo
- Reina Sofia Museum
Locations
- São Paulo
- Brazil
- Ghana
- Africa
- Asia
- South America
- Nicaragua
- France
- Japan
- Ukraine
- Madrid
- Spain