Yona Friedman's 'Democracia' exhibition at Memorial da Resistência explores right to understand

The exhibition 'Democracia' at Memorial da Resistência de São Paulo presents manuals by Yona Friedman (1923-2020) that advocate for the 'right to understand' as an essential human right. Curated by Ana Pato with assistance from Carolina Faustini Junqueira, the show highlights Friedman's accessible communication methods and democratic language. The Hungarian-born artist, who lived through World War II before settling in France, produced manuals for institutions like UNESCO and United Nations University addressing housing, democracy, and environment. The exhibition features films, drawings, collages, installations, and proposals for cultural spaces, including his 'Street Museum' and 'City Spatial' concepts. Friedman's architectural proposals appear discreetly in vitrines, showcasing ephemeral structures like the Simple Technology Museum built in Chennai, India in 1987. The exhibition design by Anna Ferrari, Isabella Rosa, and Pedro Lins includes wall graphics, hanging posters, and aluminum wire installations. Local collectives casadalapa and Paulestinos collaborated on posters and banners, while partnerships with Sesc Bom Retiro will host discussion cycles. Materials are available on the Memorial's website per Friedman's lifetime permission for dissemination. The exhibition runs through March 2022, with pandemic restrictions preventing street museum implementation in São Paulo's Luz district.