Art Critic Compares Brazilian Rodeo Rituals to Contemporary Art World Social Circuits

In November 2024, ArtReview published an essay by Oliver Basciano reflecting on cultural rituals in rural Brazil. The author, recently relocated to Minas Gerais, attends the season's first rodeo, observing parallels between this event and art world gatherings. He notes the feverish energy, uniform clothing, and community bonding at the rodeo, comparing them to art fair excesses and biennial openings. Riders compete for prizes equivalent to six months' wages, mirroring artists' high stakes at fairs. The essay describes other local events like carnival, saint's festivals with church bingo, motocross rallies, ox parades, and night markets, all serving as social mechanisms. Basciano argues that contemporary art has shifted into an experience economy where social performance and networking dominate, echoing relational aesthetics from the 1990s. He references artists Doug Aitken and Rirkrit Tiravanija as examples of art as social spectacle. The critic suggests that in rural Minas Gerais, community rituals feel less mediated than art world events, offering clarity beyond urban noise.