Through a partnership between the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo and IPAC – Instituto do Patrimônio Artístico e Cultural da Bahia, the Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia will host a special selection from the 35th Bienal de São Paulo – choreographies of the impossible. Curated by Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes and Manuel Borja-Villel, the exhibition will be on display in the capital of Salvador from May 2 to July 28.

Salvador will host the largest exhibition held outside the Bienal Pavilion in São Paulo, with 19 participants: Citra Sasmita, Davi Pontes & Wallace Ferreira, Edgar Calel, Emanoel Araujo, Inaicyra Falcão, Julien Creuzet, Leilah Weinraub, Luiz de Abreu, M’Barek Bouhchichi, MAHKU, Malinche, Marilyn Boror Bor, Maya Deren, Nontsikelelo Mutiti, Quilombo Cafundó, Rosana Paulino, Simone Leigh & Madeleine Hunt-Ehrlich, Torkwase Dyson, and Xica Manicongo.

The 35th Bienal de São Paulo – choreographies of the impossible explores the complexities and urgencies of the contemporary world, addressing social, political and cultural transformations. The curators seek to tension the spaces between the possible and the impossible, the visible and the invisible, the real and the imaginary, giving voice to diverse issues and perspectives in a poetic way. Choreography, understood as a set of body-centered movements that defy limits, considers diverse trajectories and areas of activity, creating strategies to face institutional and curatorial challenges. choreographies of the impossible generate their own relationships, times and spaces, offering visitors a remarkable experience.

For the curators, it is crucial that the exhibition reaches more cities, transcending the limits of the Bienal Pavilion. According to them, “the debates proposed by the 35th Bienal cross countless territories around the world, so not restricting choreographies of the impossible  to the Bienal Pavilion is extremely important for the work carried out”.

Andrea Pinheiro, president of the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, emphasizes the importance not only of bringing the choreographies of the impossible to a wider audience, but also of strengthening ties between cultural institutions: “By bringing the Bienal de São Paulo back to the city where it all began in Brazil, in collaboration with MAM-BA, we are not only strengthening Brazilian cultural institutions, but we are also essentially making art and culture more accessible to everyone. By overcoming geographical barriers, we create opportunities for more people to experience and participate in the contemporary art scene, further enriching cultural narratives. This journey not only facilitates the exchange of experiences between audiences and institutions, but also contributes to building a more inclusive and culturally vibrant society throughout Brazil,” she says.

Bruno Monteiro, Secretary of Culture for the State of Bahia, talks about the importance of hosting an event like the Bienal de São Paulo. “It’s a huge responsibility for us, the Bahia State Government, to host the second largest collection of the Bienal, outside of the official pavilion. This is the result of a lot of coordination and the commitment we have to valuing and disseminating artistic and cultural expressions in our state,” he says.

Educational actions with the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo team

During the traveling exhibitions, the Fundação Bienal de São Paulo, together with its partner institutions, carries out two fronts of educational work that complement each other. These are training actions with the city’s teams of mediators and educators, and outreach actions for the general public.

The educational publication of the choreographies of the impossible was divided into three different movements – or volumes – with content aimed at mediation and outreach actions. The third movement, prepared especially for the traveling exhibitions program, was produced based on the practices carried out during the exhibition at the Pavilion and is distributed free of charge to those taking part in the actions.

In Salvador, in addition to a training course for local mediators, there will be a program open to the public. Among the events is Bienal na escola – Águas confluentes [Bienal at school – Confluent waters], which will take place in public schools on the outskirts of the city and, in a second phase, will take students and their teachers to visit the exhibition at MAM-BA. There will also be mediated thematic visits focusing on education and accessibility, as well as the 35th Bienal’s traveling encounters, in which the Fundação Bienal invites other institutions to share mediation experiences.

Finally, one of the highlights of the program will be the launch of the third movement of the educational publication, designed to contribute to critical and diversified training in contemporary art education. This event will be attended by artist and educator Inaicyra Falcão, as well as photographer Lázaro Roberto, creator of Zumví Arquivo Afro Fotográfico.

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35th Bienal de São Paulo – choreographies of the impossible
Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia Traveling Exhibition
Curators: Diane Lima, Grada Kilomba, Hélio Menezes and Manuel Borja-Villel
May 2 – July 28, 2024
Tue – Sun, 10 am – 6 pm
Museu de Arte Moderna da Bahia
Av. Lafayete Coutinho, s/n
Comércio, Salvador, Brazil
free admission