Review: À Nordeste Exhibition at Sesc 24 de Maio Critiques Regional Politics Through Art

The exhibition À Nordeste at Sesc 24 de Maio in São Paulo presents a politically charged, deliberately disorienting critique of Brazil's regional divisions, particularly the Northeast's distinct political identity. Curated with intentional linguistic subversion, the show features crucial works by artists like Jonathas de Andrade, whose 2016 video O caseiro reinterprets the legacy of sociologist Gilberto Freyre. The duo Bárbara Wagner & Benjamin de Burca contributes photographic and video works from 2013, while Cristiano Lenhardt's 2012 video Polvorosa offers a humorous fictional counterpoint. Despite a confusing layout that bombards visitors, the exhibition's strength lies in its inclusion of artists like Zahy Guajajara, Marcelo Pedroso, Dalton Paula, and historical figures Joaquim and Vicente do Rego Monteiro and Montez Magno. A notable tension exists as artists such as Wagner/de Burca, who represent Brazil at the 2024 Venice Biennale, and Andrade are represented by major Southeastern galleries like Fortes D'Aloia & Gabriel and Galeria Vermelho, complicating the show's regionalist stance. The curatorial text avoids direct analysis of individual works, instead presenting postulates to the visitor. The exhibition runs from an unspecified date until 30 May, aiming to provoke urgent questions about Brazilian society and art.