Casa França-Brasil reopens to the public with the group show “Casa Aberta: Passagens”, displaying works conceived by 10 contemporary artists to create a dialogue with the space, considering its transformations throughout history.
This neoclassical historical building was designed by Grandjean de Montigny (architect of the French Artistic Mission) and inaugurated in 1820 to give to the city of Rio de Janeiro a cosmopolitan atmosphere, following the European style of that time. In 1824, the place was turned into a Customs House, where imported goods and also slaves brought from Africa would be kept on hold.
Among the works developed for the show, we highlight the installation “Al-Fundaq“, developed by our represented artist Claudia Hersz, who sought inspiration in the etymology of the word “alfândega” – “customs” in Portuguese (in Arabic: “al-fundaq” – translated as a guesthouse or inn, a temporary and welcoming shelter or place).
The work emulates an Arab tent, which has a carpeted floor and translucent fabric walls mingling with the architecture and history of the House in a ghostly way. On the floor, a large-scale “covidian” mask, of the same fabric as the carpet, alludes to the current pandemic moment and to the increasingly distant relations between people, ideas and countries.
Curated by Diego Martins and Ricardo Resende, “Casa Aberta: Passagens” runs until March 31, and can take up to 10 people simultaneously in the space. Visiting times: Wednesdays to Sundays, from 12 am to 6 pm. Free admission.
