Here and There: Exchanges Between Italy and Brazil from the Biennials (1948-52)
Abstract
This dialogue highlights the significant influence of the Venice Biennale model on the establishment of a biennial exhibition in post‑war São Paulo. It examines how cultural exchange and artistic collaboration between Italy and Brazil helped the São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (MAM) to achieve its goals of legitimizing modern Brazilian art and building international connections. It also delves into the role of the first São Paulo Biennial organizers and their relationships with diplomatic and cultural bodies. Additionally, the prevalent historiographical emphasis on Biennial’s role in shaping abstractionism in Brazil is contrasted with the first Brazilian representation at the Venice Biennale in 1950 and the national prizes awarded at the inaugural Modern Art Museum Bienal in 1951, which focused on figurative art.
Submitted: Nov. 25, 2024 | Accepted: Jan. 20, 2025 | Published July 24, 2025 | Language: en
Keywords São Paulo Bienal • Venice Biennale Model • Brazilian Art Historiography • São Paulo Museum of Modern Art (MAM) • Post-war Abstractionism
Copyright © 2025 Vinicius Spricigo, Ana Magalhães. 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/10.30687/978-88-6969-910-8/002