ABERTO show unfolds inside two brutalist residences in são paulo

ABERTO returns for a third edition in São Paulo

Exhibition platform ABERTO returns this summer to São Paulo for a highly anticipated third edition, taking place from August 10th to October 6th. Founded in 2022 by Brazilian art advisor Filipe Assis, the platform celebrates and promotes the encounter of Brazil’s architecture, art, and design both nationally and internationally. The show is staged yearly in never-before-seen private and public spaces, creating a compelling panorama of works by the country’s most prominent talents. This latest edition, titled ABERTO/03, will be held in two iconic brutalist houses from the 1970s, little known to the public: one by Brazilian architect Ruy Ohtake, designed for his mother, Tomie Ohtake, a celebrated artist from Kyoto, Japan; and the other by Chu Ming Silveira, an architect and designer from Shanghai.

from left to right: Paisagem Sol II (Para Tomie) by Sandra Cinto (2024), Black Mimbres Iand White Mimbres by Adriana Varejão (2015) | Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

honoring brazilian art and design in never-before-seen spaces

Each São Paulo residence serves as a backdrop for the ABERTO exhibition, revealing striking displays of art and design choreographed art curator Kiki Mazzuchelli and designer Claudia Moreira Salles in response to their architectural surrounding. ‘These homes offer an unexpected intimacy, inspired by Oriental designs with low ceilings that enhance engagement with the art, promoting contemplation and interaction. Our curation carefully uses architectural elements – openings, angles, and natural light – to place artworks, transforming each house into a canvas that blends form and function for an immersive experience beyond typical exhibition standards’, explains Salles.

from left to right: Duas pessoas (que se desejam) dentro de uma barraca (Two people (that want each other) inside a tent) by Luísa Matsushita (2024), Tomie by Daniel Senise (2024), Mesa baixa by Ana Prata (2024) and Paisagem Sol by Sandra Cinto (2024) | Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

Kiki Mazzuchelli’s dynamic art curation for the third ABERTO edition this summer joins an ensemble of Brazilian modern and contemporary art through collaborations with leading galleries such as Fortes D’Aloia & Gabriel, Mendes Wood DM, Luisa Strina, and Nara Roesler, amongst others. In contrast, Moreira Salles’s design curation focuses on new furniture pieces edited by ETEL Gallery under the direction of Lissa Carmona, whose family company has been protecting the legacy of Brazil’s rich design history for decades through the edition and reedition of great modern classics.

the atelier features vibrant colors as a tribute to Tomie’s artistic legacy

‘The concept of ABERTO takes roots in the iconic 1922 Modern Art Week, a cornerstone movement that brought together artists, architects, and writers, and established the groundwork for creative intersection among disciplines,’ notes founder Filipe Assis. ‘This event inspired our ongoing exploration of Brazilian Modernism and its relevance in contemporary culture where art, design, and modern architecture come together.‘ Read on as we take you on a tour of ABERTO/03, held inside the Residence of Chu Ming Silveira and The Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake, two historical and brutalist dwellings immersed in and surrounded by nature in São Paulo.

Untitled sculpture by Tomie Ohtake (2006), Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

The Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968)

In São Paulo’s Campo Belo neighborhood, the 750 sqm atelier house where Tomie Ohtake lived and worked stands as one of the first major projects by her son, architect Ruy Ohtake. Symbolizing the city’s brutalist architecture, the house features vibrant colors as a tribute to Tomie’s artistic legacy. Paulo Miyada, curator of the Tomie Ohtake Institute, presents an exhibition exploring the architect’s life and work through personal items, archival materials, and artworks. ABERTO also invites contemporary Brazilian artists to create works inspired by Ruy Ohtake’s architectural style. Rodrigo Ohtake, Tomie’s grandson, introduces a limited edition of design pieces edited by ETEL Gallery, including works by Ruy Ohtake and an original piece by Rodrigo.

from left to right: Mesa baixa by Ana Prata (2024), Paisagem Sol by Sandra Cinto (2024), Lances complementares, by Marcius Galan (2024), Together Again: Spring by Arlene Shechet (2023) | Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

The ABERTO/03 exhibition in São Paulo also features new works by emerging artists Antonio Tarsis, Sophia Loeb, and Yuli Yamagata, alongside pieces by established artists like Ana Prata, Luiz Zerbini, and Alexandre da Cunha, who is showcasing his Ikebana sculptures. A highlight includes a Super 8 film by Luiz Roque, documenting architect Ruy Ohtake over the years. ‘We are thrilled to unveil the remarkable stories of these extraordinary women and their profound impact on Brazilian art, architecture, and design,’ says Lissa Carmona, Founder and CEO of ETEL Gallery. ‘ABERTO/03 not only celebrates their artistic and architectural contributions but also their immigrant perspectives that shaped the Brazilian Modernist movement.’

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from left to right: Paisagem Sol by Sandra Cinto (2024), Mesa baixa by Ana Prata (2024) and Together Again: Spring by Arlene Shechet (2023) | Atelier House of Tomie Ohtake (1968) | image © Rue Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

Residence of Chu Ming Silveira (early 1970s)

Located in São Paulo’s Morumbi neighborhood, Chu Ming Silveira’s early 1970s residence stands out with its bold concrete and glass design, emphasizing functionality and lived experience over conventional aesthetics. During ABERTO/03, her youngest son, Alan Chu, will honor her innovative legacy by showcasing his own designs, edited by ETEL Gallery, alongside reinterpretations of her original work. The art display will feature recent works by Anna Maria Maiolino, who recently received the Golden Lion for Lifetime Achievement at the Venice Biennale, and historical pieces by Pop-feminist artist Wanda Pimentel from her Envolvimentos series. The exhibit will also include rare works by Lygia Pape and Lygia Clark from the 1950s and 1960s, as well as a masterpiece by Alfredo Volpi from the 1950s.

from left to right: Sem título, da série Da Terra by Anna Maria Maiolino, São 16, da série Preposições by Anna Maria Maiolino (2014), Narativa Il by Maria Leontina (1957), The Knigni Jail (Prison du Roi) by Carmen Herrera (1948) | Residence of Chu Ming Silveira (early 1970s) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

Tomie by Artur Lescher (2021) | Residence of Chu Ming Silveira (early 1970s) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO

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from left to right: Hidrante, da série Envolvimento / Hydrant, from the Involvement Series by Wanda Pimentel (1969), Sem título, da série Relevos by Lygia Pape (1954/1956), São 16, da série Preposições by Anna Maria Maiolino (2014) | Residence of Chu Ming Silveira (early 1970s) | image © Ruy Teixeira, courtesy ABERTO