(Un)Known Artists of the Amazon: Exhibition in Vienna 24th of April - 21st of April, 2025
Starting from the feather art often admired in the West, the exhibition revolves around the indigenous art of Brazil and its changed perception in the public
May 31st, 2024
The exhibition represents a collaborative effort between the Weltmuseum Wien (WMW) and the private Museu de Arte Indígena (MAI) in Curitiba, Brazil.
Curators Claudia Augustat (WMW) and Julianna Podolan Martins (MAI) have orchestrated a dialogue between the collections of both institutions, illustrating the evolution of utility and ritual objects into autonomous works of art.
Beginning with the feather art often esteemed in Western cultures, the exhibition focuses on the indigenous art of Brazil and its evolving public perception. Historically, the creators of this art were stripped of individual recognition, perceived solely as representatives of their communities and traditions. This is evident in the WMW collections, where most artists remain anonymous, in stark contrast to the MAI, which identifies nearly all artists by name and maintains ongoing relationships with them.
A striking element of the exhibition is the visual correlations that emerge between various art forms, revealing that Brazilian indigenous art, both historically and in contemporary times, embodies an aesthetic principle that permeates human existence and links it to the ecological and spiritual realms.
Location: New Hofburg, Heldenplatz 1010 Vienna (World Museum Vienna)
Date: 24th of April - 21st of April, 2025
