Bahia Biennial resumed 46 years after being shut down by the Military Dictatorship

20 May, 2014

By Camilla Baier

“PrevisA?o do tempo:Ai??Tempo negro. Temperatura sufocante. O ar estA? irrespirA?vel. O paAi??s estA? sendo varrido por fortes ventos. MA?x.: 38A?, em BrasAi??lia. MAi??n.:5A?, nas Laranjeirasai??? Ai?? “Weather forecast:Ai??Dark skies. Suffocating temperature. Irrespirable air The country is being swept by strong winds. Max: 38 A? in BrasAi??lia. Min: 5A?, in Laranjeirasai???

This meteorological forecast published in the Jornal do Brasil seemed to anticipate the troubles and protest ahead. It was one day after 13 December 1968; the day the Brazilian President Arthur da Costa e Silva passed the AI-5, the fifth of seventeen major decrees issued by the military dictatorship following the 1964 coup dai??i??Ai??tat. The decree ensured the preliminary censorship of the arts and press and its main target was the second National Biennial of Visual Arts, the Bienal da Bahia. The next ai???biennialai??? would take place 46 years later in 2014.

The first Bahia Biennial. December 1966, Convento do Carmo, an ancient building of great historical importance to Salvador, became home to the first National Biennial of Visual Arts. The Bienniel brought together artists from different parts of the country and the event was a milestone in the history of Brazilian art. It was promoted by artists such as, Juarez ParaAi??so, Chico Liberato and Riolan Coutinho and had the support of the State Government of Bahia. The biennaleai??i??s aim was to decentralise artistic production in Brazil, at the same time affirming dialogue between Bahia, the North-East of Brazil and the art scene throughout the rest of the country. Organized by the three artists, the first Bienal da Bahia managed to bring the most important contemporary artworks in Brazil to Salvador and also reveal a second generation of modernist artists from the local region of Bahia.

The artists brought about the internationalisation of Bahiaai??i??s modern art scene. The biennial decentralized art, which before had only been associated with Rio and SA?o Paulo. Before, Bahia had seemed like another, far away country, out of touch from the art world. The aim was to disperse the artistic activity of Rio de Janeiro and SA?o Paulo to Salvador, placing the Northeast on the map for major artists and arts enthusiasts. Chico Liberato, an artist and filmmaker, remembers the news of the launch of the first Bienial of Bahia being received with enthusiasm and eagerness by the local artistic community. ai???Between 1966 and 1968 the northeast of Brazil had a very strong intellectual life in film, music, theatre and especially in the visual arts. The biennial fitted ‘like a glove’ in this scenario, given the development of cultural territory that was Bahiaai??i?? recalls former Cultural Secretary Juca Ferreira. By 1968 an opposition had accumulated against the biennial. ai???There was a growing cultural stronghold in Bahia that was against us,ai??i?? says Juarez ParaAi??so, referring to the power of the DiA?rios Associados, Brazilai??i??s biggest media conglomerate, and the regimeai??i??s ai???official artistsai???. Unlike the first biennial, the 1968 biennial emphasized Bahiaai??i??s artistic production. The idea was to create an opportunity to have national production contribute critically to the formation and affirmation of the art scene in North and Northeast Brazil.

Just before the eventai??i??s inauguration, the authoritarian regime made itself present and with the new AI-5 in place, the Bienal da Bahia was swiftly cancelled. Artworks were confiscated and artists were arrested. Artist Sante Scaldaferri, who was waiting in the courtyard with others for the opening of the event, was quoted as saying: ai???Everyone expected the doors to be opened any minute, after the inauguration speech by the Governor Luis Viana. Instead, a government official entered the exhibition grounds shouting: ai???Governor, donai??i??t step inside, there are subversive artworks.ai??i?? Viana, who had associated the arts with freedom in his speech just minutes before, decreed the closing of the event and issued the arrest of organizer Juarez ParaAi??so among others.Ai??ai???We suffered a lotai??i??, said Juarez ParaAi??so.

ai???The coup blocked Bahiaai??i??s opportunity to articulate itself to the rest of Brazil with the artistic avant-garde scene that came in the late 1960s. This caused a delay in the advancement of cultural arts in our region of Brazil, which we are still trying to recover.ai??i??

Now, with the arrival of the third edition of the Biennale, it is time to overcome the trauma left by the previous experiences. The third Bienal da Bahia will close a gap of 46 years in the history of the state of Bahia. The event will take place in a variety of cultural outlets in the NorthEast of Brazil and will spread out to museums and cultural centres, as well as places like the Public Library of the State of Bahia, universities and other less conventional exhibition spaces. Not only in Salvador, but all over Bahia independent spaces are willingly collaborating, even artists are opening up their private homes.

MAM (Modern Art Museum, Salvador, Bahia) Photo by Camilla Baier

The ai???newai??i?? biennial does not only aim to resurrect the legacy of the artists and intellectuals involved in the first Biennial; it also aims to fulfil its purpose as an artistic space for dialogue. It hopes to establish an alternative field and a counter discourse conducive to the creation and promotion of research proposals and artistic movements, without the need for legitimation by national and international authorities. The 2014 biennial is expected to create new links and relationships with other Brazilian regions, local cultures and global conditions. The event will feature a cultural program running for 100 days, starting 29 May, which includes exhibitions, projects, educational initiatives and meetings with artists. The Secretary of Culture of Bahia, Albino Rubim, highlights the significance of the event being held during the FIFA World Cup 2014.

ai???This will not only be a biennial of visual arts, but also of culture. During this time there will be dialogue about the culture of Bahia, Brazil and the whole world. The idea is that our growing culture is recognized. Moreover, we want to have a biennial that redeems the story of the past events, held in 1966 and 1968.ai??i??