Skip to content
pt
Home
Reading time 3 min

Foreign invasion at Inhotim

Redação Inhotim

Since the World Cup started in Brazil, Inhotim has received a huge amount of foreigners eager to take home good memories of their trip. The faces and accents from all over the world are ready to open a smile and proudly shout the name of their countries of origin. That doesn´t mean receiving international visitors is something new for the Institute. Actually, about 20% of those visiting the park come from other countries and, during the two first weeks of the competition, this average has increased to 60%.

 

“I am an art teacher in Belgium and I first heard of Inhotim in a documentary aired in the largest TV station in my country. Then, since I am in Brazil because of the World Cup, I took the opportunity to visit this wonder!”, tells Koen Verhaeghe, while observing the 4-meter sculpture by Brazilian artist Cildo Meireles. Named Inmensa (1982-2002), the work was included in the panoramic tour conducted in English, which the Belgium took part in and that was created especially for this flow of tourists brought by the World Cup.

 

From Argentine hermanos to Pakistanis and Israelis – whose teams, by the way, aren’t even playing the Cup – the Institute has already received visitors from more than 20 different nations. Americans Lisa Christiansen and Ryan Samuelson found out about the park in a search they make back home nine months ago, before arriving in South America. “When I saw pictures of Inhotim on the Internet, I knew I had to visit this place”, she says.

Casal de norte-americanos que viaja pela América do Sul não deixou o Inhotim de fora do roteiro. Foto: Rossana Magri
The landscapes of Inhotim guaranteed it a place in the American couple’s to-do list. Photo: Rossana Magri

Do you also feel like checking out the beauties of Inhotim? Start planning your visit now. Check out the park’s opening hours.

Reading time 6 min

Fernando Sodré performs at Inhotim

Redação Inhotim

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Fernando Sodré is part of renewal movement in country viola. Last year, the artist released his third album, Viola de Ponta Cabeça [Upside-down Viola], in which he shows modern elaborated harmonies, executed with technique and precision. The result is contemporary jazz filled with influences, which he will be presenting at Inhotim this coming Saturday, June 7, at 3 p.m.With musicians Írio Júnior (piano), Esdras Neném (drums) and Enéias Xavier (bass), the viola player will also have Toninho Horta and harmonic player Gabriel Grossi as guests. Inhotim’s Blog has talked to Fernando about the concert and about his relationship with music. Check it out!

 

Inhotim’s blog – You have roots in choro music, but there are also jazz elements to your music.How do you describe what you do?

Fernando Sodré – I can say that what I play is Brazilian instrumental music. My arrangements are influenced by typical Brazilian rhythms and melodies such as choro, northeastern music and traditional music from Minas. I think it’s a mix of all that.I started out playing chorinho and only then jazz, with musician Alvimar Liberato. He introduced me to jazz and, from then on, I started studying it. In the beginning, the language was difficult for me, but I soon fell in love with it and added its elements to my music.

 

IB – In your last album, as well as at Inhotim, you play with important musicians in the Minas Gerais scene. How did it feel to add these names to your work?

FS – Enéias was the greatest responsible for this experience. I had known him for a while and we used to work together every now and then. Once, I was going to perform in Panama and drummer Márcio Bahia, who was going to play in the concert, could not travel with the band. Then, Enéias told me about Esdra (Neném). He played with us and it was a very nice experience. A few people know about this, but before thinking about Viola de Ponta Cabeça I intended to release a solo album. After this trip and other experiences, I changed my mind and decided to invite both of them to form a trio. We added other interesting elements to the recording, such as Irio’s piano and Gabriel Grossi’s harmonica. The result was a very free album, in which each one of us had a lot of autonomy to create within the arrangements proposed.Considering that we did it live, the gathering of influences and sounds was beyond my expectations. When I first listened to the tracks I noticed how well things fitted together.

 

IB – Singer and songwriter Toninho Horta is also in the album and takes part in the performance at Inhotim. Tell us about this experience.

FS – I’ve been a big fan of Toninho Horta for a long time.I have always listened to his music and he was one of my references. Throughout my career, I’ve always wanted to develop some sort of work with him. Through a common friend, I invited him when we were doing Viola de Ponta Cabeça. We sent the material, Toninho listened to it, liked it and agreed to be in the album. As soon as the recording started, he was very willing and engaged with the project. The result was this version of “Party in Olinda”, a track directed by him and that came up quite interesting.

 

IB – About the concert on Saturday, what does it mean for you to perform at a place like Inhotim?

FS – It is truly a fantastic opportunity to be able to play at a place that is respected and acknowledged both in Brazil and abroad such as Inhotim. I think my music dialogs very well with the place and the people there, so, my expectations are huge. I´m hoping it will be a great show. After all, the place’s atmosphere positively influences each track we’ll be playing. We will show a very diversified repertoire, with songs from the last album and from other ones, older ones. In addition to our base formation, Toninho Horta, Gabriel Grossi will also participate.

 

IB – The performance is part of the program for the 10th Environment Week, which is taking place at Inhotim. How do you relate to the environmental issue?

FS – It’s funny you mentioned this, because a lot of my music is created in places far from city centers. Rivers, farms, mountains, that is, places that haven’t undergone major alterations by men. Therefore, nature is a source of inspiration for me. Without it, it’s likely I would find difficulties with my creative process. Weeks such as this one are very important to raise everyone’s awareness about environmental issues.

Reading time 3 min

2014 World Cup at Inhotim

Redação Inhotim

Do you want to visit Inhotim during the World Cup? Then, check out our program for June and July and don’t miss out on anything:

 

Matches’ broadcasting

Those visiting the Institute on match days will not miss out on the Cup. Inhotim will broadcast the matches at the Theater at the Burle Marx Educational Center during the park’s visiting hours: from 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Tuesday through Friday and up to 5:30 p.m. on holidays and weekends.

 

Panoramic Tour in English

Between June 14 and July 12, Inhotim’s panoramic tour will also be conducted in English. Perfect for you to take your couchsurfing gringo friends! The idea is to offer an overview of the Institute, emphasizing on the landscaping project and works of art on display in the gardens. The tour leaves at 11 a.m. from the park’s reception, Tuesday through Sunday and holidays. There may be up to 25 visitors in each group and the tour takes 1 hour.

 

Art Theme Tours

If you intend to learn a bit more about the contemporary art world, don’t miss out on the art theme visits. Always focusing on a certain aspect of the collection, they allow for reflections and different ways to look at the works of art. These tours last 1 hour and 30 minutes and take place on Saturdays, Sundays and holidays, at 2:30 p.m., leaving from the reception. Check out the themes during the World Cup:

 

June: See, hear, touch! Hyperstimulation in art

Visitors are invited to discuss how new technologies and means of communication change how things are perceived and done in the arts. Based on works by Babette Mangolte and Hélio Oiticica, we can discuss about these transformations in the artistic production in large cities in the 1960s.

 

July: Soundscapes

Have you ever stopped to think how sounds can be learned and changed by technology? In June, we propose you look and listen to our walks throughout the park, our spaces and actions more carefully, based on a reflection on artists such as Janet Cardiff and Doug Aitken.

 

Play for the shirt of your team and take part in our activities, which are free for all visitors! Click here to buy your ticket.

Reading time 4 min

10th Environment Week

Redação Inhotim

Have you heard of ecological footprint? Carbon credit? Environmental innovation? These and other expressions have often come up when it comes to preserving the planet. Researchers all over the world are joining forces to think about ways to reduce man’s impact on the Earth and how to make such practices common to any citizen. Next week, this discussion will take place at Inhotim, with the 10th Environment Week, whose theme this year is People for Climate.

 

From June 1 to 8 Inhotim will host an intense program with innovation workshops, seminars with special guest speakers, environmental education workshops, guided theme visits, games and a botanical exhibit. The activities propose a reflection on environmental preservation and present initiatives related to sustainability.

 

Inhotim’s Blog talked to Joaquim de Araújo Silva, Environment and Botanical Garden Director at the Institute. Check it out!

Inhotim’s Blog – This is the 10th edition of the Environment Week and the 8th to take place at Inhotim. How do you analyze this trajectory?

Joaquim de Araújo – The Environment Week is intended to synchronize global, national and regional themes at Inhotim, and then establish attitudes based on these discussions. Throughout the years, we have found important solution for environmental issues and have reaffirmed the value of Inhotim Botanical Garden in preserving biodiversity. The Environment Week has become a forum to discuss the environmental theme at a real high level.

 

IB – People for Climate is this year’s theme. In which kind of initiative do you believe people can get engaged in order to try to slow down climate changes?

JA – We intend to bring this topic to people’s everyday lives, so that they can reflect on their way of life. Climate change and global warming are closely related to how member of contemporary society live their lives on a daily basis. We want to draw the attention of individuals, and not only of companies, about their consumption patterns and habits. The conscious use of natural resources is essential for us to reverse this scenario. We don’t have a recipe for success, but we must perceive that consuming with common sense is related to the well-being of society as a whole.

 

IB – What has Inhotim been doing to reduce its impact on the environment?

JA – First of all, we know we are responsible for flora and biodiversity conservation and we have increasingly positioned ourselves effectively when it comes to this theme. As a botanical garden, we work with several goals, including research, committing ourselves to the Brazilian reality. Now, when it comes to managing the park itself, we have established the Environmental Management System, whose purpose is to map out and create a more efficient way to operate. The actions include control and monitoring of solid waste produced at Inhotim, reduction of expenses with electric power, improve drinking water use and handling, among others. These are practical ways to ensure the Institute’s excellence in its relationship with its surrounding environment.

Reading time 3 min

An invitation to mediation

Equipe de mediadores

There have been countless efforts to define the word mediation, which is used in several different ways by different sectors of society.  It can relate to the solution of conflict, the interpretation of works of art and, yet, it can be used to facilitate a process.  

 

Since the beginning of its activities, Inhotim’s Department of Education has developed strategies to promote discussions on the Institute’s collections.  This work happens through mediation, a practice that supports dialog, autonomy and, most of all, visitors’ experiences.  

 

Mediation is a powerful tool to build knowledge.  It helps visitors and mediators recognize themselves as active participants in the most important discussions related to contemporaneity.  At Inhotim, the purpose of mediation is to create a safe space for dialog, questioning and discovery.  These meetings go beyond the first impression in search of that which makes us think, find the sparkle that leads to a reaction on our part.

 

What awakens or critical eye and compels us to (re)build?  We understand that the construction of knowledge happens through exposure to new images, new dilemmas.  This alchemy results in a powerful tension in our rational boundaries, which we seek to expand.

 

Taking part in a guided tour, or mediated tour, at Inhotim is taking yourself to an unknown place and making this place fertile soil to risk, speak up, improvise and perceive how you feel in this context.  

 

You are invited to take a closer look, to ask, and get to places, create memories and have encounters that will take your breath away!

 

 

Written by Lília Dantas, Art and Education Supervisor at Inhotim