Letters to the World" exhibition
Exhibition
- Nome: Exposição "Cartas ao Mundo"
- Abertura: 29 de maio 2022
- Visitação: até 29 de maio 2022
Local
- Local: Sesc Avenida Paulista | Praça (Térreo)
- Online Event: No
- Endereço: Av. Paulista, 119 - Bela Vista, São Paulo
Sesc Avenida Paulista presents a contesting exhibition created by Bia Lessa
The exhibition-manifesto "Letters to the World", inspired by the work of Glauber Rocha, changes daily, several times a day, with unique supports, performances and parades on Avenida Paulista
A manifesto. A cry. An urgent need to (re)think the present world through the eyes - head and heart - of Glauber Rocha. Three universes in controlled chaos, supports for acute and critical looks at the reality in which we are inserted, at a context of disregard and disinterest for the other, of decline in the capacity for coexistence, of what is public, collective, and all that this represents.
"'I wanted/change/everything': as in the poem by Augusto de Campos, that was the motto of this project. That is the goal of this work - the desire for awareness and change"says Bia Lessacreator and curator of the exhibition Letters to the Worldon show at Sesc Avenida Paulistain São Paulo, until May 29, 2022.
The show changes daily, several times a day, and has a defined weekly schedule with a timetable for each attraction, including different assemblies of the exhibition environment, film screenings and performances. In addition, on Sundays, at 1pm, there are protest parades through Avenida Paulista.
See the programme:
Tuesdays
12h Asphyxiation Exhibition
19h30 Screening of the film Asphyxia
20h45 Exhibition Merchandise
Wednesdays
12h Merchandise Exhibition
19h30 Exhibition of the film Merchandise
20h45 Exhibition The Common
Farms
12h Exhibition The Ordinary
19h30 Exhibition of the film The Ordinary
21h05 Exhibition Asphyxiation
Fridays
12h Asphyxiation Exhibition
19h30 Screening of the film Asphyxia
20h45 Exhibition Merchandise
Saturdays
10.45 am Asphyxiation Exhibition
12h Screening of the film Asphyxia
13h15 Exhibition Merchandise
2.30 p.m. Screening of the film Merchandise
3.45 p.m. Exhibition The Ordinary
5 p.m. Screening of the film The Ordinary
Domingos
10.45 am Asphyxiation Exhibition
12h Screening of the film Asphyxia
13h Mercadoria (Merchandise) Exhibition
13h Parade
2.30 p.m. Screening of the film Merchandise
3.45 p.m. Exhibition The Ordinary
5 p.m. Screening of the film The Ordinary
When visiting the exhibition-manifesto, the viewer takes on other roles when faced with the three chapters of a stimulating cinematographic narrative, with realities and environments that come to life in an expography that is incessantly transformed, with scenarios that change during the visit. The exhibition breaks the barriers of what is usually expected from an exhibition and moves towards an anti-exhibition, as Tadeusz Kantor would say.
Shapes, colours, acts and reflections lead the visitor and are led by him. Sequential performances by a dozen artists fill the universes of the films Asfixia, Merchandise e The Ordinary. As well as the experience of a myriad of works by 80 artists, brought together with the special contribution of Vitor Garcez, Flora Süssekind, Ailton Krenak e Guilherme Wisnik.
An exhibition-installation, as the curator defines it, with a film triptych set in the heart of São Paulo and a work in Largo do Paissandu "which was really the starting point of this project and of its effort to reimagine an abandoned stretch of the city - and, in this microcosm, to visualise and think the country".. This series, whose chapters, i.e., three universes are seen in contrast and mutual dialogue and invited to a transit between exhibition space, and viewing on mobile phones, websites and TVs. Letters to the World is an intentionally expansive project and will be presented on different platforms, expanding the dialogue with the public and creating different forms of appreciation.
The triptych can be seen on Globoplay and on the Sesc Digital platform. The show is supported by Canal Curta, Consulate General of France in São Paulo, Globoplay, Goethe-Institut São Paulo, Inhotim Institute, LBM and Pinacoteca of the State of São Paulo, and held by Sesc.
Letters to the World takes place at Sesc Avenida Paulista, in a place that is a symbol of "city" and "urbanity", an open exhibition space, open to urban life and ready to be invaded by everything that comes from it: its looks, its sounds, its laments, its opinions, its fears, its desires, its dreams, its revolt, its pulsating life.
"The intention is to participate in a movement that says loud and clear NO. No to an excluding city and country, which can no longer see itself".announces Bia Lessa. And continues: "this work comes out from the bottom of the stomach, passes through the throat and smells bad. Because it tries to look straight ahead at what suffocates us. Because it exists with my guts".. At 63, she gives voice to important actions so that this "no!" takes shape, the initial step towards transformation. Just as in Glauber's work, in Cartas ao Mundo the (r)evolution of language is evident, the dialogue with the present time, the breaking down of barriers and the expansion of limits, the definitive connection between theory and practice and the indispensable dialogue between artistic languages.
Expography
The expography is based on an idea of illness and healing, it transforms itself every hour, creating different environments for each of the chapters. The soundtrack of the performances is composed by Dany Roland. O Grivo, responsible for the soundtrack of the exhibitions, and Carlinhos Brown and Arnaldo Antunes, responsible for the theme music that will take over Paulista Avenue in the parades.
The light design is by Paulo Pederneiras and the preparation of the actors is by Amalia Lima. The exhibition includes three 60-minute films, images of the works of 80 artists, texts and collages created by Arnaldo Antunes.
Chapter 1: Asphyxiation
This chapter, entitled Asfixia (Asphyxia), shows the degradation of the city, in the face of the problems arising from large metropolises - geographical, social and economic problems. The issues are dealt with through statements, quotes, poems, real images and virtual images. We used the work and the personality of Glauber Rocha as a conductor element of the narrative. Hospital furniture, two large screens, 300 rubbish bags make up the exhibition.
Chapter 2: Goods
The chapter entitled Merchandise shows the transformation of citizens into consumers, questioning human values. Since the industrial revolution, technological development has made it possible to manufacture products on a large scale, and consequently man/consumer has emerged. The world is turned upside down, hospital furniture occupies the airspace, works of art are transformed into merchandise.
Chapter 3: The Common
Chapter three takes as its starting point the concept of Common by Antônio Negri and Michael Hardt. A new form of occupation of Largo do Paissandu is proposed, in the face of Glauber Rocha's visceral reflection. A chorus of narrators is formed, emphasizing the idea that the city is constructed from plural necessity and desire. The hospital furniture is replaced by a labyrinth of transparent fabric, a fluid expography, cardboard boxes are transformed into supports for the works.
About Bia Lessa
Bia Lessa, paulista, artist responsible for works in the areas of theatre, opera, plastic arts and cinema. Recently, she directed the plays: Macunaíma by Mario de Andrade, Grande Sertão Veredas by Guimarães Rosa, and Pi Panorâmica Insana, based on contemporary authors. He was responsible for the Humanity Pavilion 2012, at Forte de Copacabana during Rio + 20, the Brazilian Pavilion at Expo 2000 in Germany, the Reinauguration of the War and Peace Panels at the UN in NY, the Grande Sertão Veredas Exhibition at the inauguration of the Museu da Língua Portuguesa, the Baroque Module at the Bienal do Redescobrimento, the Claro e Explícito exhibition, and Itaú Contemporâneo: Art in Brazil 1981-2006, at the Itaú Cultural Institute. In cinema, he directed the feature films Crede-Mi, Então Morri and finalizes Travessia, with premiere scheduled for 2023. He has also directed the operas Suor Angelica by Puccini, Cavalleria Rusticana by Pietro Mascagni, Pagliacci by Ruggero Leoncavallo, Don Giovanni by Mozart and Il Trovatore by Giuseppe Verdi, for the reinauguration of the Theatro Municipal of Rio de Janeiro. He is currently working on the staging of AIDA at the Theatro Municipal de São Paulo, with premiere scheduled for June 2nd of this year. His plays and films have been presented in different countries, among them the Centre Georges Pompidou, in Paris, the Madrid Autumn Festival, the Theater der Welt Festival, in Germany, the Berlinale, in Berlin, in San Francisco, Biarritz, NY, among other cities.
Service
Exposição | Cartas ao Mundo Quando: até 29 de maio de 2022, terça a sexta, das 12h às 21h, sábados e domingos, das 10h às 18h30Local: Praça (Térreo). Classificação etária: Livre. Grátis. Agendamento de grupos: agendamento.avenidapaulista@sescsp.org.br
Unit opening hours:
Tuesday to Friday, from 10am to 9.30pm.
Saturdays, Sundays and public holidays, from 10am to 6.30pm.
It is necessary to present proof of vaccination against COVID-19. Children from 5 to 11 years old must present proof evidencing one dose, people from 12 years old on, of the two doses (or single dose), besides a document with photo to enter the Sesc units in the state of São Paulo.