In the first half of the 20th century artists in Brazil sought a modern artistic expression of their own. Particularly in the first decades, the European avant-garde – including Paul Klee – was just as important a reference as the country’s own indigenous and Afro-Brazilian cultures.

As well as parallels with the investigations of European modern art, differences consistent with the political, social and cultural situation also become apparent. The exhibition shows the different ways in which Brazilian artists developed their own modern pictorial languages. It presents ten artists and an introduction to formative political and economic events as well as milestones in the country’s literature, music, design and architecture.

Artists:

Tarsila do Amaral (1886–1973)*
Anita Malfatti (1889–1964)*
Lasar Segall (1891–1957)
Alfredo Volpi (1896–1988)*
Vicente do Rego Monteiro (1899–1970)
Flávio de Carvalho (1899–1973)
Candido Portinari (1903–1962)*
Djanira da Motta e Silva (1914–1979)*
Rubem Valentim (1922–1991)*
Geraldo de Barros (1923–1998)

* exhibited at the Venice Biennale

Curators: Fabienne Eggelhöfer, Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern, and Roberta Saraiva Coutinho, São Paulo, with Adrian Locke, Royal Academy of Arts, London

The exhibition is organised by the Zentrum Paul Klee, Bern in collaboration with the Royal Academy of Arts, London, where it will be on display from 28 January until 21 April 2025.