Walter Zanini's 'Museum as Forum' at MAC USP
In a recent article for ARTMargins, Paulina Pardo Gaviria explores the significant role of curator Walter Zanini at the Museu de Arte Contemporânea, Universidade de São Paulo (MAC USP) from 1963 to 1978. She discusses a brief work titled "New Direction for the Museum of Contemporary Art," which he published in December 1974. Influenced by discussions at the 1969 ICOM symposium in Brussels, Zanini's idea of the "museum as forum" is examined in the context of the post-1968 global art conversation and Brazil's military regime, showcasing his foresight in shaping contemporary exhibitions and curatorial practices centered on dialogue.
Key facts
- Walter Zanini directed MAC USP from its foundation in 1963 until 1978.
- Zanini's concept of 'museum as forum' was articulated in a 1974 article.
- The 1969 ICOM symposium in Brussels exposed Zanini to the forum vs. temple idea.
- The article is published in ARTMargins, Volume 15, Issue 1, pp. 111-127.
- Zanini's practice is contextualized within post-1968 Paris and Brazil's military dictatorship.
- MAC USP remains Brazil's leading contemporary art museum.
- The study argues Zanini's work anticipated global dialogical curatorial approaches.
- The article is available via MIT Press.
Entities
Artists
- Walter Zanini
Institutions
- Museu de Arte Contemporânea at Universidade de São Paulo (MAC USP)
- International Council of Museums (ICOM)
- ARTMargins
- MIT Press
Locations
- Brazil
- São Paulo
- Brussels
- Belgium
- Paris
- France