June 22nd – July 21st | Bihar Museum, Patna
Bihar Museum Biennale is coming back with its second edition on 7th August 2023 at the Bihar Museum, Patna. As a curtain raiser to the Biennale, Bihar Museum is presenting a captivating photography exhibition titled ‘Brasilia 60+ and the Construction of Modern Brazil’.
Curated by Dr Alka Pande, this exhibition pays tribute to the notable achievements of Brasilia, the capital city of Brazil, as it celebrates 200 years of independence. Brasilia, an idea that emerged in the early 19th century, gained immense significance over time and was eventually inscribed in Brazil’s constitution.
In 1956, President Juscelino Kubitschek recognized this idea and selected Lucio Costa’s urban plan, the ‘Plano Piloto’, as the winning concept for the new capital. The renowned Brazilian modernist architect, Oscar Niemeyer, skillfully captured the inherent beauty of Brasilia by integrating Costa’s meticulous urban layout with distinct buildings that exude functional, rhythmic structures, intricately designed facades, and minimalist, clean, and linear designs.
Through the lens of photographer Leonardo Finotti, the exhibition showcases the artistic documentation of Brasilia, capturing its unique character, essence, and architectural intricacies.
The exhibition features a mesmerizing collection of photographs that depict symbolic palaces such as the Parliament, the President’s residence, the President’s office, the Ministries, and a significant number of apartment buildings. Leonardo Finotti is a Brazilian artist and one of the leading architectural photographers worldwide.
These architectural marvels paved the way for the capital’s transfer from Rio de Janeiro to Brasilia in 1960, forever shaping the urban landscape of Brazil. Kenneth Frampton, an architectural critic, once noted, “The concept of the Neighborhood Unit… probably has never been more cleverly articulated and judiciously applied than in Brasilia’s ‘superblocks’.” This statement reflects Brasilia’s transcendence from a contemporary city to a thriving modern metropolis, where a united community collaboratively constructs the urban landscape.
‘Brasilia 60+ and the Construction of Modern Brazil’ not only commemorates 200 years of Brazil’s independence but also highlights the vision, skill, and creativity of the architects, urban planners, and artists who shaped Brasilia into the architectural masterpiece it is today.
