Top 7 Exhibitions You Can’t Miss at the 35th São Paulo Bienal

Iole de Freitas - Spectro, 1973_2018 - Galeria Raquel Arnaud

Top 7 Exhibitions You Can't Miss at the 35th São Paulo Bienal

T

he 35th edition of the São Paulo Bienal is back and set to captivate Brazil's capital from September 3rd to 6th. This significant event will see galleries throughout the city showcasing exceptional exhibitions by both established and emerging artists, creating a grand celebration of São Paulo's dynamic and increasingly diverse art scene. It promises to be an unmissable experience for art enthusiasts, budding collectors, and the general public.

As the largest and oldest event of its kind in Latin America, this year’s Bienal boasts an impressive lineup of 120 artists. The roster includes prominent local figures like the Afro-Brazilian trailblazers Emanoel Araújo and Arthur Bispo do Rosário, as well as internationally acclaimed artists such as Katherine Dunham, Trinh T. Minh-Ha, and Simone Leigh. Additionally, there will be a special focus on avant-garde cinema, featuring the works of American experimental filmmaker Maya Deren (1917–1961) and French West Indian filmmaker Sarah Maldoror (1929–2020).

Allow us to present to you a curated selection of seven must-see exhibitions at this year’s Bienal.

Laura Lima, “The trip of those who never went”

Galeria Luisa Strina

Aug. 31–Oct. 31

Experience Laura Lima’s “The Journey of Those Who Never Went” at Galeria Luisa Strina, running from August 31st to October 31st. Laura Lima, a celebrated Brazilian artist whose work has graced prestigious events like the 24th and 27th São Paulo Bienals and the XI Lyon Biennale, is known for her immersive installations that invite viewers to physically engage with architectural and spatial elements. In her previous exhibitions, she has incorporated living matter and natural elements, as seen in “Six Feet Over,” a 2022 exhibition at Tanya Bonakdar Gallery in Los Angeles.

This current exhibition at Galeria Luisa Strina continues the artistic journey initiated with “Balé Literal,” a show Laura Lima originally presented at A Gentil Carioca Gallery, which she co-founded in her hometown of Rio de Janeiro in 2019. “Balé Literal” featured suspended everyday objects in motion alongside specially crafted sculptures and was later reimagined at the Museum of Contemporary Art Barcelona. This exhibition’s somber undertones reflected the political climate of 2019 under Brazil’s right-wing government. At Galeria Luisa Strina, Lima extends these thought-provoking concepts into the realm of absurdity and surrealism, showcasing porcelain aerial sculptures reminiscent of flying saucers.

assume vivid astro focus (avaf), “amarelo vento azul floral (as cores se acumulam em sua atmosfera tecendo luzes)”

Casa Triângulo

Aug. 15–Sep. 23

Experience a vibrant explosion of color in the art of Eli Sudbrack, a Rio de Janeiro-born artist who has called New York home since the 1980s, and Christophe Hamaide-Pierson, a French multimedia artist. Together, they form the dynamic duo known as avaf (assume vivid astro focus), operating as a collective alongside fellow artists since 2001.

The captivating world of color and line takes center stage in avaf’s latest exhibition at Casa Triângulo. The gallery’s walls come alive with large paintings sporting unconventional, whimsical shapes, alongside more traditional rectangular canvases. Some artworks are cleverly attached to wooden supports, blurring the lines between painting, sculpture, and architecture. What emerges is an explosive burst of color that defines the spatial boundaries within each painting, thanks to meticulously outlined, sharp edges.

The distinctive shapes of some pieces resemble scattered puzzle fragments, hinting that each work is meant to be experienced as part of a larger whole—an impression reinforced by the stencil supports allowing viewers to appreciate multiple artworks simultaneously. Although the acrylic paintings share a common computer-processed template, the final effect of the exhibition is a continually unfolding, delightfully whimsical interplay of tones and geometric forms. Don’t miss the opportunity to immerse yourself in this visually dynamic and ever-evolving experience. Avaf’s art is a celebration of color and form that will leave you inspired and intrigued.

Linhas Tortas

Mendes Wood DM

Sep. 2–Nov. 11

From September 2nd to November 11th, Mendes Wood DM marks its remarkable ten-year journey with simultaneous exhibitions in São Paulo, New York, and Brussels. “Linhas Tortas,” which translates to “Crooked Lines” in Portuguese, delves into the myriad ways in which artists explore the concept of lines as both visual and linguistic symbols, transcending cultural, temporal, and medium boundaries. The title also nods to a beloved Brazilian saying, “deus trabalha in linhas tortas” (“God works in mysterious ways”).

Structured around themes like serendipity, mysticism, authorship, and exploration, this exhibition unfolds along five distinct threads, each probing a unique aspect of lines as conduits for storytelling, time, and space. “Linhas Tortas” showcases an array of artists, including those who have been part of the gallery’s journey from the outset, such as Paulo Nazareth and Daniel Steegmann Mangrané, as well as renowned local talents like Sônia Gomes and Rubem Valentim. Additionally, it features an impressive lineup of international artists, including Luc Tuymans, Louise Bourgeois, Etel Adnan, and Senga Nengudi.

Don’t miss this exceptional exhibition, where “Linhas Tortas” invites you to explore the intriguing and multifaceted world of lines, a testament to Mendes Wood DM’s decade-long commitment to the art world. It’s a celebration of creativity, diversity, and the enduring power of artistic expression across borders and generations.

Iole de Freitas, “iole de freitas_ the imminence of gesture: from sculpture to photography”

Galeria Raquel Arnaud

Aug. 26–Nov. 4

São Paulo’s art scene is currently ablaze with a focused exploration of the Brazilian artist Iole de Freitas, whose artistic journey began in the 1960s. Her captivating works are under the spotlight in three distinct exhibitions at the Institute Moreira Salles (IMS), Tomie Ohtake Institute, and Galeria Raquel Arnaud. At the latter, de Freitas’s 2021 stainless steel sculptures take center stage, where the graceful metal contours give rise to chiaroscuro effects and unfolding narratives.

Intriguingly, the artist’s early photographs capture “photo-actions” in which her body interacts with everyday objects, resulting in uncanny sequences. For instance, her renowned series “faca na agua” (“knife in the water,” 1981) comprises four photographs depicting a serrated blade and a sheet of glass intersecting at various angles. These combined images evoke a profound sense of action and equilibrium, emphasizing the artist’s acute perception of an event as a visual performance. This interaction of light and shadow takes center stage in the IMS exhibition.

Join us in this captivating journey through Iole de Freitas’s artistic evolution, from her striking sculptures to her thought-provoking photographic narratives. It’s a unique opportunity to delve into the world of an artist whose work continues to challenge and inspire, bridging the realms of sculpture and photography with grace and innovation. The show at Galeria Raquel Arnaud promises to be an exploration of the profound impact of gesture and the interplay of light and shadow in de Freitas’s extraordinary body of work.

Rodrigo Cass, “libera abstrahere”

September 7 – October 7

Davide Balliano embarks on a captivating exploration of the thresholds of perception through his sculptures and textured paintings, meticulously crafted from plaster, gesso, and varnish. “Event Horizon” unveils a striking collection of new marble sculptures that bear the hallmark arches and undulating U-shapes that have become synonymous with the artist’s distinctive style. In these sculptures, Balliano extracts shapes from the seemingly boundless tapestries of patterns in his paintings, isolating these forms within single and double arches that delve into the realms of voids and negative space.

In his latest paintings, Balliano revisits the realm of geometric abstractions on a grander scale, crafting immersive fields from his monochromatic and black-and-white patterns. These fields are intentionally disrupted by fragmented circles and arches, inviting viewers to lose themselves in the interplay of form and void. In both his sculptures and paintings, Balliano masterfully directs our attention to the materials themselves. He deliberately exposes glimpses of raw, natural marble and the thick, gravity-induced drips of paint. This artistic choice pays homage to his Italian heritage and the historical use of marble in antiquities and architecture while also preserving traces of his own artistic touch and the effects of gravity on the paint, providing visual hints of unseen natural forces at play.”

Erika Verzutti & Anderson Borba

Pivô

Sep. 2–Nov. 26

Pivô, a unique fusion of artistic residency and exhibition space, brings together two artists renowned for their experimental approach to materials. Anderson Borba meticulously crafts unconventional artworks from industrial-grade wood, cardboard, textiles, and magazines, employing techniques like carving, burning, pressing, and painting to transform them into rugged, unexpected shapes. His creations range from two-dimensional forms that evoke pictorial spaces to sculptures that, with their simplified aesthetics, resonate with the spirit of Brazil’s self-taught folk artists.

In contrast, Erika Verzutti, whose recent institutional exhibitions have graced prestigious venues like the Museum of Modern Art São Paulo Assis Chateaubriand (MASP) and CCS Bard Galleries, boasts an extensive artistic repertoire. She fearlessly explores diverse media, including bronze, clay, papier mâché, and porcelain, shaping handcrafted objects and forms that occasionally blur the lines between art and everyday objects in a playful and enigmatic manner. Her impressive exhibition history includes appearances at the 11th Biennale de Lyon (2011), the 32nd São Paulo Bienal (2016), and the 57th Venice Biennale (2017).

These two accomplished artists, who have previously collaborated, unveil a project specially commissioned for Pivô’s raw and imposing brutalist exhibition space. Join us in an exploration of their innovative material-driven artistry, where form and concept merge to challenge our perceptions and ignite our imaginations. It’s an exhibition that promises to push the boundaries of artistic expression while captivating your senses with its diverse and thought-provoking creations.

Guerreiro do Divino Amor (Antoine Golay), “Mausoléu Superficcional”

Galeria Marília Razuk

Aug. 19–Oct. 7

Prepare to immerse yourself in a world of thought-provoking video art as the Galeria Marília Razuk proudly presents “Mausoléu Superficcional” by Guerreiro do Divino Amor, also known as Antoine Golay. From August 19th to October 7th, experience a multimedia journey that delves into Brazil’s national myths, skillfully weaving together a unique visual language that merges computer graphics, live action, video game-inspired imagery, and pop culture. The result is a series of apocalyptic scenarios that challenge established narratives.

In his video work, Golay confronts the enduring image of Brazil’s capital, Brasilia, as an iconic modernist urban project of the 1960s. Through digital manipulation, he reimagines this pristine cityscape, unravelling layers of complex history, racism, political turbulence, institutional dynamics, and everyday struggles. Golay, who holds a degree in architecture from Switzerland but currently resides and creates in Rio de Janeiro, brings a distinctive, often sardonic perspective to the fore.

Having garnered recognition through retrospectives such as “Superfictional Sanctuaries” at the Centre d’Art Contemporain in Geneva in 2022, and a residency at DAAD in Berlin from 2021 to 2022, Golay is set to represent Switzerland at the prestigious 2024 Venice Biennale.

In addition to the four previously produced video works, this exhibition at Galeria Marília Razuk unveils a new video piece titled “O Milagre de Helvetia” (“The Miracle of Helvetia,” 2022), making its debut in Brazil. Don’t miss this extraordinary opportunity to explore Golay’s visionary artistry, where the boundaries between reality and imagination blur, and where powerful narratives are unveiled through the lens of digital innovation.