Jochen Volz Outlines Vision for Pinacoteca de São Paulo Amid Conservative Attacks on Art

Jochen Volz, the German director-general of the Pinacoteca do Estado de São Paulo since May, discusses his strategic plans for the museum, emphasizing its multifaceted role beyond exhibitions. He highlights the institution's historical connection to contemporary art, dating back to its founding as a teaching facility for young artists. Volz aims to foster strategic international dialogues, moving beyond simply importing famous names to create meaningful exchanges that reshape local perspectives. He reflects on his previous leadership roles at Inhotim and the Bienal de São Paulo, noting the Pinacoteca's unique position with its long history and technical expertise. The director addresses the systematic conservative attacks on art exhibitions in Brazil, expressing concern for the loss of cultural memory and the unique integration of poetics, politics, concept, and form in Brazilian art. He advocates for defending cultural institutions as plural spaces that promote diversity, drawing parallels with indigenous agricultural practices. Upcoming programming highlights include the historical exhibition 'Radical Women,' organized by the Hammer Museum, and a retrospective of Swedish pioneer Hilma af Klint, curated by Volz in collaboration with the Moderna Museet. Volz, whose career has largely unfolded in Brazil, sees his dual perspective as both an insider and an outsider as a delicate but potentially interesting vantage point.