Brazil's 33rd São Paulo Biennial opens amid political tensions echoing 1960s censorship
The 33rd Bienal de São Paulo, named 'Affective Affinities,' is taking place from September 7 to December 9, 2018, at the Ciccillo Matarazzo Pavilion. Curated by Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro, this edition showcases the work of seven artists: Alejandro Cesarco, Antonio Ballester Moreno, Claudia Fontes, Mamma Andersson, Wura-Natasha Ogunji, Waltércio Caldas, and Sofia Borges. Set against a backdrop of political turmoil in Brazil, far-right candidate Jair Bolsonaro is polling between 19-22% ahead of the October 7 election, with intentions to abolish the Ministry of Culture and amend the Rouanet Law. The atmosphere is charged with corruption scandals and increasing inequality, prompting artists to rally for cultural freedom. The previous biennial in 2016 drew 900,000 attendees.
Key facts
- The 33rd Bienal de São Paulo runs from September 7 to December 9, 2018.
- Curator Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro invited seven artists to curate mini-exhibitions under the theme 'Affective Affinities.'
- In 1967, police removed and destroyed works by Cybele Varela and Quissak Jr. from the 9th Bienal de São Paulo.
- Institutional Act n.5, enacted in December 1968, formalized censorship under Brazil's military dictatorship.
- Over 80% of artists boycotted the 1969 São Paulo biennial due to regime pressure.
- Far-right presidential candidate Jair Bolsonaro plans to disband the Ministry of Culture and reform the Rouanet Law.
- In October 2017, Santander Cultural closed the Queermuseu exhibition in Porto Alegre after conservative protests.
- Artist Wagner Schwartz fled Brazil following threats over his 2017 nude performance 'La Bête' at MAM de São Paulo.
Entities
Artists
- Alejandro Cesarco
- Antonio Ballester Moreno
- Claudia Fontes
- Cybele Varela
- Henry Moore
- Judith Butler
- Mamma Andersson
- Mário Pedrosa
- Pablo Picasso
- Quissak Jr.
- Sofia Borges
- Wagner Schwartz
- Waltércio Caldas
- Wura-Natasha Ogunji
- Gabriel Pérez-Barreiro
- Waltercio Caldas
Institutions
- Bienal de Bahia
- Bienal de São Paulo
- Bloomberg News
- Colección Patricia Phelps de Cisneros
- DOPS
- MAM de São Paulo
- Movimento Brasil Livre
- Museum of Modern Art of Rio de Janeiro
- Rio de Janeiro Federal University
- Santander Cultural
- 33rd Bienal de São Paulo
- ArtReview
Locations
- Argentina
- Bahia
- Brazil
- Caracas
- Curitiba
- Ibirapuera Park
- New York
- Paris
- Porto Alegre
- Rio de Janeiro
- São Paulo
- Spain
- Sweden
- United States
- Uruguay