“Inverted America” connects 70 artists at CCBB São Paulo

The exhibition “Joaquín Torres García – 150 Years” at CCBB São Paulo revisits the Uruguayan artist’s legacy through dialogues with 70 modern and contemporary creators.

On view until March 9, the show presents one of the largest collections ever dedicated to Joaquín Torres García, framing his groundbreaking ideas alongside artists such as Hélio Oiticica, Cildo Meireles, Bispo do Rosário, Anna Bella Geiger, and Rosana Paulino. The result is a rare conversation between past and present visions of Latin American identity.

Curated by Saulo di Tarso, the exhibition revisits the concept of “Constructive Universalism,” in which universal forms express local identity. The narrative also evokes the 1978 MAM Rio fire and the enduring influence of the Treaty of Tordesillas on South American cultural relations.

At its center, the iconic piece Inverted America challenges geographic and symbolic hierarchies. “It’s a chance to heal, to reconnect Uruguay and Brazil through culture,” notes the curator.

Over 40 Brazilian artists participate, including Volpi, Mira Schendel, and Lina Bo Bardi. A final section brings Rosana Paulino into direct dialogue with Torres García, expanding his humanist and regional vision into today’s global art scene.

The show features rare writings, works from major museums such as MACBA and IVAM, and international names like Carmelo Arden Quin, Alfredo Jaar, and Robert Kelly. More than a tribute, “Joaquín Torres García – 150 Years” offers a critical reflection on an artist who once declared, “Our North is the South.”

Photo: Renato Parada

Service

Exhibition: Joaquín Torres García – 150 Years

Venue: CCBB São Paulo – Rua Álvares Penteado, 112, Downtown

Dates: Until March 9, 2026

Hours: 9 a.m. to 8 p.m. (Closed Tuesdays)

Free admission

Touring: CCBB Brasília (Mar 31–Jun 21, 2026) and CCBB Belo Horizonte (Jul 15–Oct 12, 2026)