Search News Archives    Categories       Trips        Theater        Sports        Shows        Seminars        Review        Politics        Parties        Notices        Language        Interview        Hotel Guide        General        Fairs        Events        Entertainment        Culture        Cinema        Business        Brazil Column        Arts        Article        Around Brazil        Advertising        All categories    Receive Our Free Newsletter

Brazil: São Paulo‘s Pinacoteca

By Mark Taylor The Pinacoteca art museum is one of the jewels in São Paulo‘s tourist crown, although the city can often do a good job of hiding its jewels within the vast metropolis. To continue the metaphor though, Pinacoteca is a jewel that shines relatively brightly, and although it can‘t begin to compare with some of the biggest art museums in the world it‘s still definitely worth a visit. The name itself is the Portuguese word for art museum, so not a particularly imaginative choice albeit a correct one. Although the museum is technically known as Pinacoteca do Estado, that is the art museum of the state of São Paulo. The building and its Italian neo-renaissance style were designed by the architect Ramos de Azevedo, to hold the "Liceu de Artes e Ofícios de São Paulo" (essentially São Paulo‘s art school). Construction was started in 1897 and completed in 1900. Ideas had changed during this time though, and in 1901 it was chosen instead to be the state‘s art museum. It was inaugurated in 1905, and was the first art museum in the city of São Paulo. From its inauguration to the early 90s the size of the museum was slowly increased, but it was realised towards the end of this period that major renovation works would be required to bring it to international standard. So between 1993 and 1997 the building was renovated based on designs by the architect Paulo Mendes da Rocha, with a view to providing a more attractive site for international exhibitions. Mendes da Rocha won the Mies van der Rohe Architecture award in 2000 for his design. The renovations included changing the side of the entrance to face Estação da Luz (the Luz train station) and removal of some internal walls. The two vast atriums within the building were bridged by steel catwalks, giving a contrasting blend of the original building‘s brickwork and contemporary design. The very obvious exposed brickwork was in fact never supposed to be seen, but when the finalised elements of the building‘s construction never happened the only option was to leave the bricks as they are. The roofs over the atriums were also replaced during the renovations with a glass lattice, that allows ample light into the building. When you walk from an atrium to the inner areas that hold most of the works there is another contrast, and you certainly feel like you are in a world class museum with the bright white and tall corridors. This certainly creates a perfect setting in Pinacoteca, which is a work of art itself. The building itself has three floors. On the ground floor you can actually walk around both of the atriums, visit some of the works, as well as visit the café. The upper floors contain a mixture of Brazil‘s artistic history, from the 19th century to present day. The museum includes around 4,000 works, with sculptures and paintings from Lasar Segall, Almeida Júnior, Alfredo Volpi, Oscar Perreira da Silva, and many more famous artists. There are also a number of contemporary works on show, as well as some international pieces. There‘s always temporary exhibits on show as well, which give an excuse for repeated visits (keep an eye out in our São Paulo Entertainment Guide for some of these). Getting to the Pinacoteca is easy. Just take the Metrô to Luz station, and then follow the signs to Praça da Luz. You‘ll exit through the Luz train station, and see the Pinacoteca opposite this. Open Tuesday - Sunday, 10am - 6pm. Adults R$4, students R$2. Saturday: free entry. Praça da Luz, 2. Luz. Tel. 3337 0185. If you have a comment on Mark's article or would simply like to contact him then email mark@gringoes.com. Previous articles by Mark: Brazil: Don't Forget, You're in Another Country! Brazil: PCC Violence Returns to São Paulo Brazil: A Recycled City Part 5 Brazil‘s World Cup Defeat Party Brazil: A Recycled City Part 4 Brazil: Japanese Standard Chosen for Digital TV Brazil: NET Petition Feedback Brazil: A Recycled City Part 3 Brazil: Football Love Brazil: A Recycled City Part 2 Brazil: A Recycled City Part 1 Brazil: 100 Things To Do in São Paulo Part 3 Brazil: 100 Things To Do in São Paulo Part 2 Brazil: 100 Things To Do in São Paulo Part 1 GPS in Brazil Brazil: PCC Attacks in São Paulo Brazil: Tips on Buying or Renting an Apartment or House Brazil: A Critical Sensitivity Cleanliness is next to Brazilianiness Brazil: Manners Brazil: No Change, No Sale Brazilian TV Brazil: Ubatuba Brazil: Professional Children Brazil: We deliver... everything! Brazil: Terraço Itália Brazil: A Layman's Carnival Guide Brazil: Portunglish or Engluguese? Brazil: Feira Food Brazil: Bilhete Unico flexibility increases Brazil: Finding Work Brazil: U2 Ticket Chaos Brazil: Finding Work Brazil: Termites Brazil: Queues, Queues, Queues Brazil: Let's Go Fly a Kite! Brazil... the Film That Is Brazil: The Bus to Nowhere Brazil: Piracy Brazil: Gestures Brazil: Proclamation of the Republic Brazilian Film Review Brazilian Film Review Brazil: Finados (Day of the Dead) Interjections, exclamations and onomatopoeia in Brazilian Portuguese Brazil: Halloween Brazil says "No" to banning firearms Brazil Humour: Phone Etiquette Brazil's Gun Referendum Brazil: Scams Brazil: Moby Review Brazil: Keeping in touch via the Internet - Part 5 Brazil: Keeping in touch via the Internet - Part 4 Brazil: Avril Lavigne at Pacaembu Moby in Brazil Brazil: Keeping in touch via the Internet - Part 3 Brazil: Keeping in touch via the Internet - Part 2 Brazilian Film Review Brazil: Keeping in touch via the Internet - Part 1 Brazil: First season of Lost repeated on AXN

7/25/2006