José Rufino inaugurates Instituto José Rufino in Bayeux, Paraíba, as a site for art, nature, and research
José Rufino has founded the Instituto José Rufino on a 50,000-square-meter property in Bayeux, Paraíba, which will expand to 70,000 square meters. Now being formalized as Sítio Sabiá, the institute emphasizes art, culture, nature, and environmental studies. Rufino, who has expertise in geology and paleontology, integrates his scientific insights into his artistic endeavors. The institute hosts a living collection comprising 160 species of Araceae, 250 species of Arecaceae, and indigenous plants such as the tucum palm. It is home to wildlife like sloths, anteaters, capybaras, and foxes, situated between the coastal plateau and the Sanhauá river estuary, adjacent to Parque Estadual Mata do Xem-Xem. Rufino also intends to offer small-scale residencies and will present the exhibition 'Phantasmagoria' in March at FAMA in Itu, São Paulo.
Key facts
- José Rufino founded the Instituto José Rufino on a 50,000-square-meter site in Bayeux, Paraíba.
- The institute is a place for integrating art, nature, culture, and environmental research.
- Rufino has a background in geology, paleontology, and collaborated with his mother Marlene Almeida on earth pigments.
- The property features a living plant archive with hundreds of species and hosts native wildlife.
- The site borders the Parque Estadual Mata do Xem-Xem and contains a 19th-century dam ruin.
- Rufino chose the degraded land in 1984 to restore it completely, starting from zero.
- The institute will host artistic residencies and welcome scholars from botany, zoology, and ethnology.
- Rufino's upcoming project 'Ontologias' includes an expedition on the grounds for the exhibition 'Phantasmagoria' at FAMA in Itu in March.
Entities
Artists
- José Rufino
- Marlene Almeida
- Marcos Amaro
Institutions
- Instituto José Rufino
- Parque Estadual Mata do Xem-Xem
- FAMA (Fábrica de Arte Marcos Amaro)
Locations
- Bayeux
- Paraíba
- Brazil
- Itu
- São Paulo