35th São Paulo Biennial Announces 'Choreographies of the Impossible' Curatorial Theme

The 35th Bienal de São Paulo will open in September 2025 with a curatorial team of four announcing their thematic framework. Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes, and Manuel Borja-Villel collectively present 'coreografias do impossível' (choreographies of the impossible) as their guiding concept. Their curatorial statement expresses interest in rhythms, tools, strategies, technologies, and symbolic, economic, and juridical procedures that extra-disciplinary knowledges can promote. The proposal envisions an experimental space open to dances of the unimaginable, transforming what appears non-existent into existent. This choreography concept draws from the enigmatic nature of artistic creation, focusing on elements that are secret, mysterious, or infinite rather than worn-out or evident. These elements are described as resilient, rupturing forces attempting freedom. Lima works as an independent curator, while Kilomba practices as an artist and writer. Menezes brings expertise as an anthropologist and curator, and Borja-Villel serves as director of Madrid's Reina Sofia Museum. The biennial's title presentation marks a significant development for one of Latin America's most important contemporary art exhibitions.