MASP: Tupi-Guarani Cosmology and the Modernist Line

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"This exhibition juxtaposes ancestral Tupi-Guarani visual philosophies with canonical modernist abstraction, challenging the viewer to reconsider the intersection of land, body, and colonial legacies."

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MASP: Tupi-Guarani Cosmology and the Modernist Line presents a groundbreaking curatorial examination of Tupi-Guarani artistic expression, tracing its evolution from pre-colonial traditions into the landscape of contemporary abstraction. By mapping the deep connections between indigenous heritage and the iconic works of modernists like Tarsila do Amaral and Maria Martins, the exhibition challenges traditional Eurocentric narratives often imposed upon Brazilian modernism. Through a diverse array of mixed-media installations, the show fosters a profound dialogue between historical artifacts and modern conceptual interventions. Visitors are invited to explore how ancestral Tupi-Guarani motifs and spiritual cosmologies influenced the formal experimentation of the 20th century. Hosted at the Museu de Arte de São Paulo from May 15 to October 15, 2026, this exhibition serves as both an aesthetic experience and a critical re-evaluation of national identity. It urges us to recognize the enduring indigenous pulse within the modernist line, highlighting the complex, ongoing intersections of culture, geography, and artistic legacy throughout Brazil.

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