It’s not every day that a Brazilian exhibition is featured in the Financial Times, Wallpaper, Vogue, Architectural Digest, and other international publications – all at the same time.
Since August, the exhibition ABERTO 03, now in its third edition, has been a success with both the public and critics in its two venues in São Paulo: Morumbi and Campo Belo.
With over 20,000 visitors since opening, the project conceived by Filipe Assis and artistically directed by Claudia Moreira Salles and Kiki Mazzucchelli puts architecture in the spotlight, but is also an exhibition of art and design.
This year, the exhibition is divided between two houses of influential Asian origin artists: Chu Ming Silveira, in Morumbi; and Tomie Ohtake (highlighted image), in Campo Belo.
“These houses offer an unexpected intimacy, inspired by oriental designs with low ceilings that enhance the engagement with art, promoting contemplation and interaction,” Claudia Moreira Salles told the Financial Times.
“Our curation carefully uses architectural elements – openings, angles, and natural light – to place artworks, transforming each house into a canvas that combines form and function for an immersive experience beyond typical exhibition standards.”
Tomie’s house/studio, born in Kyoto, was designed by her son, the architect Ruy Ohtake, serving as the family’s residence and the artist’s studio for nearly 50 years. Today the house is the office of her grandson.
Concrete goes from floor to ceiling, interspersed with Mondrian-style colored walls.
Chu’s house, a visionary architect and designer born in Shanghai, was designed by her to live with her family. The house is single-story, all in exposed concrete, with wooden floors and minimal masonry. The family still lives there, and temporarily vacated the house for the exhibition.
Chu was a brilliant architect, but became more famous for designing the famous “orelhão” – the public telephones that were common in Brazil until the 90s.
The prototype of the “orelhão” is still in the house, where it was used by the family as an intercom – and was exhibited at the Venice Architecture Biennale in the 70s.
The aesthetic choices of Chu and Tomie inspired furniture created by their descendants.
In partnership with Etel – the iconic modern furniture store – Chu’s youngest son, Alan, created furniture based on his mother’s original work, while Rodrigo Ohtake, Tomie’s grandson, launched design pieces, including the reissue of two pieces by Ruy Ohtake.
In ABERTO 03, the works are divided between the houses by cores: contemporary in Tomie’s house; modern in Chu’s house.
Featuring young and promising artists – such as Ana Prata and Sophia Loeb – as well as established names like Carmen Herrera and Lygia Clark, among others, the curation is exceptional. Maria Klabin, Luiz Roque, and Marcius Galan created works specifically for Tomie’s house.
“The interest from the international press was mainly due to the novelty of such iconic houses never before seen by the public, and the commissioned works in dialogue with the architecture,” Filipe Assis told the Brazil Journal. “The visitation in this edition exceeded our expectations.”
Indeed, visitors are impressed by the unique opportunity to be in the artists’ residence, surrounded by so much beauty and elegance. It’s not common to see such a successful combination of art, architecture, and design.
“There are similar initiatives in the world, but they usually last for one or two editions. We are already planning the fourth year, presenting meticulous work, with high quality, seeking to surprise the public in each edition,” Filipe said.
For 2025, the idea is to take advantage of the second edition of the Year of Brazil in France – and the 200 years of diplomatic relations between the two countries – to hold the first international ABERTO.
ABERTO 04 will be in Paris, at the Maison La Roche, an iconic modernist property by Le Corbusier that is also a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The house was designed for Raoul La Roche, a banker and collector of modern art who commissioned a house divided into two parts: the gallery, to exhibit his painting collection, and the private living area.
Filipe wants to explore Le Corbusier’s influence on modern Brazilian architecture and take the opportunity to showcase Brazilian works in Paris.
The opportunity to visit the exhibition runs until October 5th.
Chu Ming Silveira’s house in Morumbi.
Source
Arwen Volkov, A graduate of the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland with a degree in International Finance, Arwen specializes in sustainable finance and green investments. She began her career at an investment bank in London, where she developed financing models for environmentally friendly projects. Known for her analytical and strategic thinking skills, Arwen is a sought-after financial consultant. In her spare time, she mentors fintech startups, contributing to their growth strategies. She is also a nature enthusiast and an amateur photographer.
