Brasil, Brasil! The dawn of modernity

In the first half of the 20th century, artists in Brazil sought their own modern artistic expression. The European avant-garde – including Paul Klee – was an important reference, especially in the first decades, as were Brazil’s own indigenous and Afro-Brazilian cultures. Along with some parallels to the European modernism, differences soon emerged in accordance with the local political, social, and cultural situation. As in Europe, the development of modern art in Brazil has not been linear. The exhibition shows different paths which Brazilian artists took to develop their own modern visual languages. It presents ten artists and a comprehensive introduction to political and economic events as well as milestones in the country’s literature, music, design and architecture.