Archaeology of Engagement and Discursive Practices in the São Paulo Biennial
Abstract
This essay explores the evolution of engagement and discursive practices within contemporary art biennials, focusing specifically on the São Paulo Biennial’s initial articulations towards the public. As a pioneering platform, the São Paulo Biennial has organically developed educational and discursive strategies between art, curators, educators, and the public until a complex structure is established. This essay investigates how these practices emerged and evolved from the Biennial’s inception, emphasizing the role of educational programs and training for monitors. It highlights the contributions of key figures such as Wolfgang Pfeifer, who laid the groundwork for art history classes, and Amália Toledo, who integrated creative exercises into training and reflecting on education art and the public.
Submitted: Nov. 19, 2024 | Accepted: Jan. 20, 2025 | Published July 24, 2025 | Language: en
Keywords Discursive engagement • São Paulo Biennial • Educational Practices • Institutional memory • Contemporary art
Copyright © 2025 Gabriela Saenger Silva. This is an open-access work distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction is permitted, provided that the original author(s) and the copyright owner(s) are credited and that the original publication is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. The license allows for commercial use. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.
Permalink http://doi.org/10.30687/978-88-6969-910-8/004