Largest Brazilian exhibition of Afro-descendant artists opens

The unprecedented and free exhibition Ancestral: Afro-Americas - United States and Brazil began this Tuesday (29) at the FAAP Museum of Brazilian Art. With 134 works by 74 authors that address the relations between the two countries from the perspective of the African diaspora , the exhibition is the largest ever held on national soil on Afro-descendant artists . 'Ancestral' , the word chosen to name the exhibition, is a reference to the intertwined narratives between Brazil and the United States , which transcend geographic and cultural borders, explains Marcello Dantas, artistic director of the exhibition: “This word is common in both English and Portuguese. It is this shared origin that we seek to highlight in contemporary art. The exhibition shows that, even in the face of so much pain, suffering and with all the distance of centuries of African diaspora, its art persists in the ability to keep a flame burning over time”.

“We were guided by the groups and communities of the African diaspora who reimagined the concept of servitude in the colonial nations to which they were brought, contributing significantly to the construction of the national identity of these places. Based on the idea of human beings reinventing their existence in a hostile environment, we selected artists who evoke this invention,” says curator Ana Beatriz Almeida. Lauren Haynes, who represents the American artists in the exhibition, says that working with Ana Beatriz was an opportunity to learn about common and distinct practices among black artists working in two different territories. “I hope that visitors leave the exhibition having learned about new artists and new ways of making art ,” she says. The exhibition takes place in the year that marks the bicentennial of diplomatic relations between Brazil and the United States and is the result of a partnership between FAAP and the United States Embassy and Consulates in Brazil. “The decision to place Afro-descendant art at the center of this celebration is very important, and highlights the complex legacy that both the United States and Brazil share as a result of our histories with slavery ,” said Elizabeth Frawley Bagleya, U.S. Ambassador to Brazil. With support from the Armando Álvares Penteado Foundation – FAAP and the United States Embassy and Consulates in Brazil, the exhibition Ancestral: Afro-Americas - United States and Brazil is free and open to visitors until January 26, 2025 at the FAAP Museum of Brazilian Art.

Service:

Exhibition “Ancestral: Afro-Americas - United States and Brazil”

Artistic Direction: Marcello Dantas

Curated by: Ana Beatriz Almeida and Lauren Haynes

Sponsorship: BB Asset, Bradesco, Caterpillar, CCR Institute, Citi, Itaú Unibanco, Whirlpool and Bank of America

Period: from October 29, 2024 to January 26, 2025

Location: MAB - FAAP – Alagoas Street, 903, Higienopolis, Sao Paulo

Opening hours: Tuesday to Sunday, 10am to 6pm. Closed on Mondays.

Free entry.